UK Sport

• You are here:
• Media Centre
• News

Clubs to be canvassed on the future of Athletics

Subscribe

UK Sport Press Release 14 September 2005

Britain’s 1400 athletics clubs will be polled on the key issues that arose as a result of the Foster report, which was published in May 2004. The original report, jointly commissioned by UK Sport and Sport England, was a comprehensive review of athletics.

The independent poll, that is to be conducted by the Electoral Reform Services, will be accompanied by a report from the Foster Project Board entitled 'Moving on- a charter for change.’

Clubs will be invited to vote 'yes’ or 'no’ to four key questions stemming from four of the most debated issues that the report threw up, following disappointing results in the IAAF World Championships in Paris, 2003.

Questions relate to whether the clubs support the Foster proposals on local delivery, governance and accountability, finance and membership and data. The main recommendation of the report was the creation of England Athletics which is due in April 2006. Implementation of the main proposals has been on-going since the report was published, under the direction of former British athlete Jack Buckner. It will conclude with the launch of England Athletics- of which Peter Radcliffe had assumed the role of interim chair.

Countrywide consultation has been conducted resulting in certain modifications to the original report and the independent poll is another way of broadening the process of consultation.

"The purpose of the independent poll is to seek the views of the clubs on the specific details of implementation that have been of greatest concern to the athletics community in our consultation. We shall listen to their responses and refine our plans. The biggest opportunity of all is the award of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to London, which should galvanise our sport. I believe that the proposals provide the best possible structure for athletics in the years leading up to London 2012," said Sir Andrew Foster.

Liz Nicholl, Director of Performance at UK Sport, said, "We are delighted with the progress that has been made by the Project Board in implementing the recommendations of the Foster Review. As Sir Andrew noted in his report athletics is a sport at a crossroads and, at this crucial stage in the process, it is vital that the sport works together to grasp the unique opportunity presented to modernise. I urge as many clubs as possible to engage in the debate and hence ensure they play their part in laying the necessary foundations for a strong and vibrant sport for the generations of athletes to come."

 

Back to news listing

Most Viewed