by Guo Chunju

GABORONE, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Technical innovation is key to making athletics more accessible to a global and youthful audience, Sebastian Coe told Xinhua in Botswana's capital Gaborone.

"As a global sport, we are able to take our sport globally," Coe said on the sideline of the World Athletics Relays. It is the first time the event has been held in Botswana and on the African continent.

"Technical innovation is really important. Young people are attracted by new technology, innovative technology," Coe said. "For many coming to our sport for the first time, it's not a sport that you automatically understand. So using technology to explain what's happening on the field of play, the science behind it, the increasing level of technology and understanding that needs to be attached to that, is very important."

The World Athletics chief also hailed China's role in talent development and event organization.

"China is a very powerful member of the federation, a good federation, with many good young athletes, both in middle distances, sprints and, obviously, in the technical events, the jumps and throws," Coe said.

"I think the broader point here is there are really only two true global sports. We accept football is one of them, and athletics is the other. If you look at participation, more people run in a year than do any other sport. In China, that's a very important concept, you have many marathons, ultramarathons, trails and mountain races, these are very strong events," he added.

"If we are truly a global sport, then we take our events not only to developed countries but also to developing countries. Our events in developing countries can make a very big impact on the trajectory of the sport, the number of young people who are attracted to it and want to be part of it," he said.

Asked what had stood out most during his visits to China, Coe pointed to the organization of the sport, the quality of coaching and sports science, as well as cities and world-class athlete facilities.

"It's very clear that China, through the [athletics] federation and the Olympic Committee, invests heavily in the future of athletics. That's a good place for our sport to be," he said.

Around 700 athletes from around 40 countries and regions are competing in the two-day event on May 2-3, with qualification spots available for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing and the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September. ■