ABSTRACT
In the aftermath of the Second World War, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) faced new political challenges caused by global power games. The IAAF leadership now had to deal frequently with questions of affiliation and representation. This chapter examines some of the resulting conflicts in detail, with a specific focus on the affiliation of the Soviet Union, the two Germanies, and the two Chinas. Following Edström’s election to International Olympic Committee (IOC) president in 1946, the IAAF elected a new leader, the Brit Lord David Burghley. The Eton-educated Burghley perfectly embodied the British class-based amateur ideals and he continuously attempted to invoke these ideals as head of the IAAF. This insistence meant Burghley struggled to recognise how the world changed during his presidency and failed to equip the federation for the undeniable challenges that lay ahead. Such reluctance paved the way for mismanagement and a continuation of outdated organisational structures and cultures to the detriment of those participating in the sport.
