INTRO: Over the past few days, we have read a lot of conflicting and inconsistent information on the actual management of the event related to hint that exclusion of 50km from the athletics program. We therefore wanted to ask some questions to Maurizio Damilano (Chairman of the RWC IAAF) for greater clarity.

Legenda: MdM = Marcia dal Mondo - MD = Maurizio Damilano

MdM: About the story of 50 Km has read about everything and more in recent times on social networks. Can you tell us how did things really go?

MD: Yes, it is perhaps time to make some clarity, given the number of news, sometime ill-informed, that has been circulating in recent times. Interventions that have probably compromised an even better and more final result.

Meanwhile, when it comes to intervening, it is necessary to do so by knowing exactly the facts and not using partial documents to draw definitive deductions.

The picture that was presented to the RWC was definitely very alarming to the sinister hypothesis of a complete exclusion of race walk from the Olympic program, and it was defined as the need to present any suggestions. The first "provocative" ideas were followed by a broad and exhaustive debate that continued within the two months that separated the RWC meeting from the IAAF Council in London where finally we have concluded our task so strongly and passionately.

Although I could not say more than I said in an interview before London that social media was discussing things about nothing, about options, but our goal was to defend the specialty. It isn’t very bright of some people thinking that RWC's work is not in support of race walk. Sometimes, however, to achieve the desired result, it is necessary to go along ways and strategies that will give the target to be centered (Giuseppe Tomasi da Lampedusa, Italian writer, had already written in his novel "Il Gattopardo": "change everything to change nothing", here is the strategy). 

Not starting from the alternatives, however bizarre they might appear, only threatened to close the dialogue and compromise the opportunities for a positive outcome. 

To better understand, say, "either so or nothing" does not facilitate negotiation.

MdM: We have read that you did not answer direct questions, right?

MD: There has never been a reason for not answering or circulating news unless it is to allow the RWC's internal confrontation and debate to come to focus a definite proposal. 

I understand that the outside thing may have been suspect, but I have no difficulty saying that we were also surprised by us, and it was necessary to carry on an internal discussion within the Committee to formulate the best defense and not to stand in the face of the least time in the meeting to discuss such an important topic with the pressures of the moment. 

I repeat however that things are often said and written without having complete information.

MdM: At the end, however, the result was achieved.

MD: Yes, and I do not think that the theme is now that one should take the merits.

I am well prepared, as well as all members of the RWC, to take all the criticisms if the results are these. What I consider to be inconsistent in many of the things read and the methods used by circulating non-definitive documents is the little intellectual honesty which is further highlighted in after the Council with comments that for the once again are exclusively personalities. 

As I said, however, the result is centered on what counts, and no one can take it off the whole family and fraternity of race walk.

MdM: what will happen now?

MD: Meanwhile, the IAAF Council has taken the decision to support the IOC at defending the athletic program as it is today, that is, including the two 20Km and 50Km. We will first follow these developments.

Probably, in the coming months and next few years, it will probably be necessary to think deeply about the future of discipline, probably starting from everyone's commitment to ensuring a strong defense of race walk in every nation. Looking ahead is indispensable, as well as modernizing and innovating discipline, keeping its roots in the spine of its technical identity.

One of the main appendices against 50km (of which nothing has read !) was not about the quality of participation at the Olympic or World level, or the subjectivity in judging, or the well-known gender equity for this event (of course argument to be discussed), but of the low appeal that can be adjusted through the increasingly poor participation, when not even canceling the distance, in the various National Championships. Probably the defense at the local level will have to start from the greater participation in the races.

I have seen that “Marcia dal Mondo“ has highlighted in recent days as in this first part of the season 12 races of 50km took place, with a total participation of 238 men and 25 women. Of these 12 races 5 were held in Europe with a total of 74 men and 3 women. Numbers to reflect on ! Many ? Few ?

It depends on the points of view and how to interpret the numbers, but it helps us to understand why sometimes the actions are more important than the words. 

I would like to conclude by saying, and recalling that the only aim of the RWC and all its members is to be able to be proactive with the IAAF Council, to support race walk and to help the activity progress so that our sport is becoming more and more popular with inside and outside the athletic system.

(Cover photo by Getty Images)