The governance of athletics and running in the UK can be confusing with differing responsibilities for UK Athletics, British Athletics, and the national governing bodies. One certain thing is the buck stops with Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics, who has to ensure that major events are delivered on budget – something that has proved a huge challenge in recent years. 

Last week it was announced that UK Athletics (UKA), The Great Run Company (GRC) and London Marathon Events (LME) have combined forces through the creation of a new partnership, Athletic Ventures, which is set to transform the future and growth of athletics in the UK and promote major events. The new partnership has been lauded by Lord Coe, President of World Athletics; Dobromir Karamarinov, President of European Athletics and Esther Britten, Head of Major Events at UK Sport. 

Athletic Ventures will deliver the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham and the annual Diamond League meeting in the UK. It will also lead the potential bidding process for the World Athletics Championships to return to the UK in 2029. The new company will also take over the quest to find new commercial partners for athletics in the UK, offering opportunities from grassroots to national events and the UK athletics teams at major championships in a ‘playground to podium’ sponsorship programme. 

Jack Buckner, CEO of UKA, said: “This is a groundbreaking model for the development of athletics and major sports events in the UK and we believe our new partnership, which combines the national governing body with the expertise of London Marathon Events and The Great Run Company, will transform the future of athletics in this country."

Paul Foster, CEO of The Great Run Company, said: “The partnership is driven not only by a belief in the sport of athletics but also the belief that there is real commercial opportunity. We’re bringing together the best event organisers in our sport to create a new template for international events. We’re combining world-class creative, broadcast, and event operations with focused commercial and entrepreneurial vision to develop a brighter future for athletics."  
 
Hugh Brasher, Event Director of London Marathon Events, said: “More than four decades ago, my father co-founded the London Marathon and Paul’s father created the Great North Run. These events have become the most successful marathon and half marathon in the world and inspired millions of people to become active. Combining the sport of athletics, which features the basics of all sports in running, jumping, and throwing with the greatest road running events in the world is just the start of this journey. We believe that this partnership will, over time, help deliver even more societal change than our combined events have achieved over the last forty years."

In difficult financial times, it is hoped the entrepreneurial spirit at the core of this new partnership has the true potential to deliver for athletics from the playground to the podium.

Photo shows (left to right) Paul Foster, Jack Buckner, and Hugh Brasher courtesy of Athletic Ventures