Tribute to late Lamine DIACK By Mr Hamad Kalkaba MALBOUM, President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA)

This is a very difficult moment for me to try, in a few lines, to pay tribute to a huge personality who has passed away forever: Lamine DIACK.

Late Lamine DIACK was and will remain a historical figure in African athletics which he served in all the positions he held in both the Senegalese and African sports movement. Indeed, he was one of the architects of the battle of our continent for the triumph of the ideals of peace, justice and equity in the representation of continents within the International Athletics Federation.

 

The moment is all the more difficult, thus, as it is not for us a mere moral duty to fulfill or a customary formality to be sacrificed. It is to talk about a personality who has long impacted African athletics through his many direct or indirect contributions and deeds of arms.

Today by God’s Will, Lamine DIACK passed away. Would we be able to expand this spirit of sportsmanship and brotherhood he managed to instill in us? No doubt. My certainty and my conviction are that his imprint will undoubtedly remain indelible in the minds of everyone and especially of managers that we are.

Fully aware of this and of the interest in sport and its values ​​of tolerance, fraternity and respect, late Lamine DIACK had by himself embodied this spirit and would demonstrate it to us at every occasion, and at every contact.

In memory of our regretted, the Confederation of African Athletics will continue to use and draw inspiration from this huge legacy left by late Lamine DIACK to further advance this sport he loved and cherished so much: athletics.

May his soul rest in eternal peace and may his native land be light to him.

Amen! Amen! Amen!

We belong to God and to Him we return.

Hamad Kalkaba Malboum