PARIS: Athletics’ world governing body and the Olympic movement yesterday condemned the twin bombings at the Boston Marathon, describing them as an attack on the spirit of human achievement and benevolence.
“My thoughts and those of all the Olympic Movement are with the victims, their friends and their families today,” the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge said in a statement.
“A marathon is a special, almost magical event that unites different communities with one shared goal and I am sure that this incident will serve to bring together all those who took part and all those who support such an event, with a common resolve,” he said.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) also described the blasts, which killed three and injured more than 100 on Monday, as a “a mindless attack”.
“This ghastly and cowardly attack strikes at the very core of the freest of human activities,” the president of the sport’s world governing body, Lamine Diack, said.
“Whether as a fun runner or elite competitor, road running exemplifies the honesty of basic human movement, strength and resilience.”
Diack and other senior officials in athletics also vowed to support race organisers.
“What makes this incident so vile and its planning so incomprehensible is that marathons the world over are about selfless acts of human generosity,” Diack added.
“Millions of dollars are raised for charity every year by participants in road races. The events themselves are administered by thousands of volunteers who freely give their time to operate everything from baggage trucks to water stations to finish lines.
“The streets are lined with countless millions of spectators who selflessly simply wish to applaud, encourage and embrace the best of human endeavour.
“There can be no excuse, no cause which can justify these explosions in Boston which so sicken us all.” — AFP