Athletics Ireland are set to change their competition rules regarding athletes competing in non-licensed events.
Shannonside sport reported last April that a complaint had been registered with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) regarding the introduction of the one day license.
The one day license applied to road races organised by athletics club’s which require a race permit. The permit costs the club €50 and covers insurance for up to 1,000 runners.
From January 1, all non-Athletics Ireland club members where charged an additional €2 in a “one day license”. The charge was made possible through an Athletics Ireland (AAI) deal with Eventmaster.
Eventmaster cover the entry management of road races across the country. Until January first 2023, clubs had free reign to decide on how to manage the entry of runners, including which providers to use.
Shannonside Sport understands, three changes have been recommended to Athletics Ireland (AAI) by the CCPC. These are;
- Implement a formal and robust tender process for any future service providers.
- Remove any reference to restrictions on AAI members running in non-permitted races from AAI documentation / terms and conditions.
- Formally record industry feedback from future consultations.
Current AAI rules state; AAI athletes may only compete in events which have been sanctioned by the Athletic Association of Ireland.
The introduction of the new charge caused consternation across the Athletics community, with many clubs unhappy the AAI board implemented a change and did not bring a proposal to the association’s congress.
Further unhappiness arose as clubs were unsure if any penalty would be levelled against them or their members if they opted out of the race permit. For instance, races with over 1,000 runners, require additional public liability insurance, effectively rendering the race permit ineffective.
Whereas, in the 1980’s and 1990’s a number of athletes were issued with suspensions for competing in non-permitted road races. Athletics clubs were braced for a return to members being suspended.
In correspondence seen by Shannonside Sport, the AAI have confirmed to the CCPC that they do not place any restrictions on AAI members running in non-permitted road races in the Republic of Ireland and will not restrict the holding of non-permitted road races in the State.
Questions also arose across the country, on how Eventmaster were chosen as a partner and how new entry processes where implemented on the back of the Eventmaster system being introduced.
In a statement to Shannonside sport Athletics Ireland CEO Hamish Adams said; “We welcome this review by the CCPC and note the finding endorsing our tender, contracting and engagement process. This finding validates the diligence and professionalism we have shown throughout the One Day Licence development process. The CCPC has endorsed our internal process and advises us to continue to display such professionalism going forward with three low level recommendations 1. vigilant tender processes, 2. engagement and feedback with stakeholders and 3. as confirmed to the CCPC that the AAI will not place any restrictions on AAI members running in non-permitted races in the State and will not restrict the holding of non-permitted road races in the State.”
*Article updated 3/11/23 - We wish to clarify that at no stage did we intend to imply that the €2 fee for non-Athletics Ireland members was related to the deal reached with Eventmaster.
