President of the Athletics Federation of India and founder of the Indian Olympians Association, Adille Sumariwalla was elected vice president of World Athletics on August 17, 2023, making him the first Indian to hold this post. Besides the president and four vice presidents, 13 individual council members were elected in August. For the last eight years Sumariwalla has been serving on the World Council.
In an introduction to the contenders carried on the website of World Athletics, Sumariwalla had stated his reasons for seeking election: "Having excelled at and gained experience across various aspects of sport – as an Olympian, coach of Olympian athletes and international medalists, sports administrator on international and national bodies and of multisport events, along with my professional experience in finance and media, I believe that I can serve the sport in a holistic and effective manner…
"I believe that with my experience in media and technology, I can play an effective role in taking our sport to every conceivable level and to every corner of the world. I will continue to contribute to the long-term financial stability, integrity, security and prosperity of World Athletics.”
He further enunciated his vision and passion: "To endeavor to provide equal opportunity to all athletes, across every continent, and to facilitate their journey towards their goals. To fight for and protect the integrity of our sport which is vital.”