Welcome to the website of ABAC
- The Association of GB Athletic Clubs -
an organisation formed to represent the interests of member clubs in a rapidly
changing world of sport.
"Clubs are the heart of athletics, some say"
"Two linked things should be happening: the sport systematically supports
and develops clubs, responding to their local agenda where it can; in exchange,
clubs allow themselves to be influenced so that they make the best contribution
to a wider strategic agenda"
Sir Andrew Foster, May 2004
"2% of UKA Ltd., income spent on Direct regional, club and
league support out of an income of £17.2million"
uk:athletics Annual Review 2004
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ABAC's comprehensive
club civil liability insurance policy
is available for attachments after 1st April 2006.
For full information on policy cover, premiums and a downloadable
proposal form visit the Insurance section of this site or
click here |
Travel Insurance
A low turnout at the SEAA EGM confirms the growing apathy of clubs as
the new SEAA constitution is approved. Read on.
Some England Athletic’s regions plan to change Territorial allegiance. As
the Western Regions align with Midland Territory the SEAA announce new changes
following yesterdays EGM.
Read their Press release.
SEAA Ltd is calling an EGM to gain approval for major operating changes. We have
seen the draft proposals and conclude clubs will be emasculated.
Read on.
The AAA’s AGM takes place in Birmingham on the 16th March 2008. We
look at both theirs and England Athletics Annual Accounts for 2006/2007 and
report here.
With still one year of his appointment remaining UKA Vice President Mike Winch
has resigned. Mike is joining the Management
Committee of ABAC with immediate effect. An announcement will be made
soon on re-structuring of responsibilities within ABAC. In the meantime
read Mike’s reasons for resigning from UKA Ltd which are published in
this week’s Athletics Weekly.
At a recent, sparsely attended,
half yearly meeting of BAL, clubs voted 11 to 4 in favour of an extra Division.
Here is the BAL press release.
Competition from ARC has forced the Road Running Leadership Group (RRLG) to
modify its proposed charges on the sport. Even so Scottish Athletics appears to
have decided to withdraw support for RRLG.
Is this the start of the end for them?
Following initiatives which have
already had an effect on road running in the UK (ARC) ABAC officers have
conducted a number of studies on the possible development of athletic clubs as
well as looking at possible enhancements to track and field senior competition.
The first of a series of discussion papers starts here.
One of the criticisms of the
Buckner led Athletics Competition review was that clubs were not properly
consulted. So ABAC wrote to 250 clubs to get the facts.
Here is the report which ABAC sent to UKA last week.
While success in sport declines in the UK the
Government announces new initiatives to inspire sport overseas.
Good idea or just a politician’s dream? Read on.
Once again ABAC takes the lead in promoting
clubs. The Minister for
Sport has thanked ABAC for its October Petition and confirms Government’s future
commitment to clubs. Read Gerry
Sutcliffe’s letter.
ABAC has circulated a questionnaire to all those Track and Field clubs
involved with "Age Group" competition. A high percentage have replied and their
comments are being analysed. In the meantime read a detailed commentary from
Lincolnshire athletics.
More news from Sport England on their change of direction. Read
our views and
the letter sent by CEO to Sport England External Partners.
ABAC pressure begins to pay.
Following this week’s announcement of swinging staff cuts at UKA Ltd the
Chairman of Sport England is forced to resign.
Read more on Govt plans to re-direct Sport England.
Yesterday Neils de
Vos announced up to 40 job losses at the headquarters of UKA Ltd. We are now
able to put into the public domain the agreed minutes of the ABAC meeting with
NdV held on 7th November.
Read on.
As
the debate on competition heats up Dr Philip Thomas writes to NoEAA about
Regional involvement. Read his contribution.
Here is
the updated ABAC second year report as presented to the recent AGM
The London Olympics are becoming "a gravy train for pen
pushers".
More revelations from the Sunday Telegraph. Surprised? Read on.
From The Sunday Telegraph. Nov 4
2007 by Robert Watts and Ben Leach
Sports Administrators to move targets?
Another gem from David Bond in today’s Daily Telegraph (Oct 25 2007)
UKA CEO - Niels de Vos – cancels meeting with ABAC for the
fourth time.
Read details in members only
section.
Role of Sport England set to be questioned. We
reproduce here an article published in the Daily Telegraph of 11th
October by David Bond.
Last week’s AW editorial stated that
"British Athletics was back in business and the mood was buoyant". How realistic
is that? John Bicourt comments.
We congratulate the UK’s world championship
athletics team who have mainly produced better than expected performances. But
there remains concern at the direction the sport is going and the Governments
imposition of policies.
Do we get value for money invested? Read on.
CEO of England Athletics resigns.
Read his resignation mail here
Last week the UKA self appointed "Road Running
Leadership Group" (RRLG) announced new plans for road racing. Good or bad?
Read ABAC’s views here.
Government announces scrapping of Regional assemblies. News flash
ABAC has been asked by a number of clubs to organise a petition
requesting the new Minister for Sport to review the policies of Sport England in
respect of athletics development in England.
Background article and comments.
Club Petition
Matthew Syed has produced
another scathing attack on Government for waste in sport.
We reproduce here his
July 11th article published in the Times which calls for the abolition of Sport
England and other subsidy-guzzlers.
ABAC has written to Gordon Brown concerning the deteriorating
performance of Sport England in general and UKA in particular.
Read the key points of the ABAC submission here. Also note that ABAC is preparing
a petition for clubs to support which will re-iterate the need to reorganise
Sport England and the governance of athletics in England.
Eighteen months ago Charles Gaines was an avid
supporter of "modernisation", the "one stop plan" and the replacement of the
AAAoE by England Athletics as the governing body for athletics in England.
Disillusioned he has written an
open letter published in Athletics Weekly. Read on.
In October 2006 the coaching working party of ABAC produced it's
Proposal to strengthen the coaching structure towards 2012.
Read it here on the Members section.
Ed Warner had a less than gracious dig at ABAC in a recent
article in AW.
Jack Walters puts the record straight.