As financial pressures take their toll and more ‘off-road’ championships are added to the world calendar, more athletes wanting to compete for Britain will have to dip into their pockets.
Paying your own way to compete for Great Britain. The notion is one that until recently seemed almost unimaginable, but whether it is a symptom of the harsh financial realities facing athletics in the UK or part of a cultural shift that has already been embraced by other nations and other sports, athletes will : dipping into their pockets when it comes to a number of events in the 2025 championship.
While next month’s European Cross-Country Championships will continue to be fully funded, given the event’s role in the performance track of the country’s distance athletes, those planning to target the European and World Road Championships, the Mountain and Trail World Championships. The championship, or the 50km and 24-hour world championships, will have to look elsewhere next year.
This is not entirely new territory. Late last year AW: reports that British teams traveling to the ultra-running world championships must crowdfund to pay for their expenses. While not necessarily a sustainable avenue, thinking differently will be a necessity.
“It’s not something anyone wants, saying you have to pay to represent the UK,” said UKA Endurance Strategy Manager Chris Jones. “The landscape has changed. However, as custodians of the sport, we have a responsibility for the sport as a whole. This is the challenge.
“If an investor like sponsorship comes in, (UKA chief executive) Jack Buckner will fully support that aspect of the sport, but until that financial balance comes into the sport, we’re committed to UK Sport and that’s it. act.”
As Jones points out, some other sports like cycling and triathlon have been around for a while.
“They actually say that (in their policy). “You’ll get this, this, and this, but the rest you pay your own way.” In our sport, we’ve probably tried to hold on a little too long, and culturally we’re expected to continue to fund these areas of the sport.”
Jess Bailey (Marco Gulberti)
As part of UKA’s selection policy, emphasis will be placed on exactly what is required of athletes. For example, the European Road Championships document, which has already been published, emphasizes the need for an investment of “no more than £1,100” per athlete, with an initial deposit to be paid to accept their selection.
While it would be tempting for athletes to immediately look for cheaper ways to do so, such as cheap flights and accommodation, the policy adds: best value”.
With health and safety at the forefront of his mind, as Jones says, it’s about: “How do we take care of the environment for athletes and staff? How do you make sure the product is the right product we want to represent the UK?’
World Cross Relay Cheer (Getty)
Jones cites the example of this year’s World Cup as an indicator of the changing landscape, with some countries opting not to send teams at all and others taking the self-financing route.
“I think it was the first time that countries like Germany and Italy didn’t send teams and then teams from New Zealand and Australia were self-funded,” he says. “So it’s not just us. I think it’s about the infrastructure of athletics around the world. People now have to make choices about where their investments go. It’s a cultural change in the UK to see this happen, but it’s happening in many other nations.”
He adds: “I think it’s a harsh reality (about the financial situation), but I don’t think it’s like that. By constantly adding things to the programs of World Athletics and European Athletics, it puts pressure on the sports fields. There’s an element of financial support to some of those competitions (usually two athletes), but it’s not full team coverage.”
World Cross U20 start (Getty)
The obvious concern is creating a situation of “haves” who can afford to pay their own way, and “have-nots” who are left out. Measures such as a hardship fund are being discussed, but Jones said there are other possible solutions to bridging the financial gap.
“Can these costs be written into the shoe contract?” He says before adding: “There’s a huge opportunity for mountain and trail running in the commercial space to bring a different model to that space.”
There’s a lot to consider and ways to explore, but, at least for now, self-funding seems to be part of the new normal.
2025 championships that will require self-financing
European running championship Brussels, April (Expected team size: 36 athletes)
European 10000m Pace, May (8 athletes)
World Mountain and Trail Championships Canfranc, September (40 athletes)
Road Running World Championship San Diego, September (14 athletes)
50 km World Championship TBC (12 athletes)
24 Hour World Championship Albi, October (12 athletes)
This article first appeared in the November issue of AW magazine. Subscribe to AW Magazine herecheck out our new podcast! here or subscribe to our digital archive of back issues from 1945 to the present day here
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