Options
Who really 'runs' triathlon in the UK?
mellamopaul
Posts: 30
in General Chat
The Market.
i.e. the punters who pay their money and then recommend the sport to friends and colleagues who then go out and buy the gear from the retailers who push the promoters to put on more and bigger events which draws media coverage and local interest which attracts more punters who agree to pay higher entry fees.
I'm not a member of the BTF and don't know anybody who is and don't know what they do. They probably have more clout in the elite/olypian field of triathlons but that's a very small percentage of the sport. The Retailers/Promoters/Triathletes unofficially call the shots by the process called 'supply and demand'.
i.e. the punters who pay their money and then recommend the sport to friends and colleagues who then go out and buy the gear from the retailers who push the promoters to put on more and bigger events which draws media coverage and local interest which attracts more punters who agree to pay higher entry fees.
I'm not a member of the BTF and don't know anybody who is and don't know what they do. They probably have more clout in the elite/olypian field of triathlons but that's a very small percentage of the sport. The Retailers/Promoters/Triathletes unofficially call the shots by the process called 'supply and demand'.
0
Comments
But it is the sponsers and race organisers who run the sports,with HEALTH AND SAFETY ,and huge insurance premiums incase some gets wet in the swim and sues the organisers only the bigger companies get involved and consequently have a huge say in the goings on IF THEY COULD BE BOTHERED TO GO TO THE agm.. apparrently in 2002 the majority of UK triathletes voted to have the HIMUK moved to the south coast for 2003 the same year as TRIUK OPENED THE LARGEST STORE AND BECAME A MAJOR SPONSER.OK I may be a NORTHENER who hates travelling.A large number of races that were once run by clubs are now run by organisations who can finance the insurance and have the HaS and risk assesment in place and consequently can say who,what,when and where.
The BTF unfortunately seems to benefit those that befits its own ideals,that is the elites etc,years ago the BTA as it was then could provide great deals in insurance,both bike and personal,travel and events,now it seems only the latter.
How is the new book getting on Mr C.
The BTF is also responsible for development, especially at the junior level. There are BTF development officers starting up new clubs, coaching in schools and running training camps. To me, increasing the level of participation and the profile of the sport is a worthwhile task. I also know that one of my local clubs was given £1000 by the BTF to help develop itself last year.
I don't think that because the BTF are not visible at races it means that they are not driving the sport forwards.
As to who runs British Triathlon.
We do.
We train, we spend (some more than others) and we race, mostly against ourselves unless you are Elite (the only way I'll get that badge is by digging out the computer gain) or an age grouper, everything else around us is driven by us, if the people weren't wanting to race, in the numbers they do and train so they can race, then the companies that profit from us woudn't exist.
Advances in technology is driven by the need for shiny shiny and deep pockets, in the end though we all benefit.
Just my 0.02 USD
I do agree that for the average person, membership may seem a little pointless. I joined purely to support the organization that runs my sport and because it covers me to coach. But I don't see how the retailers are the driving force behind triathlon any more than JJB Sports are the driving force behind sport in the UK.
I have contact with the LTA..what a bunch of blazers they are, all that funding and only 1, yes 1 tennis palyer that has come thu the ranks to get into the top 100, there are many many positions thee taken up by schmoozing blazer wearers, I hear swimming was not much better intil recently. So back to the point, read the BTF magazine, see the coach development, the disability athlete development, the youth development, its not perfect, but it could be worse.
If retailers are running the show, then economically we may be in the pooh soon & besides when was the last time you saw a good range of kids equipment at a Tri retailer? Or a range of adapted for disability kit?
So . . . nobody 'runs' the sport, however we all keep it running . . . a bit like communism, only it seems to work better, just don't start electing any presidents.
What runs the BTF is totally influenced by money,and those people willing to get involved.
oh and as to the entry fee for London,I would not pay £120 to race in London and swim with alot of turds,and I am not talking about my fellow competitors.
Can't see that happening, some of the smaller events may be perhaps discontinued, but the medium to large events will still grow I think, and the sponsors will be in more need than ever of getting publicity and income. As for the BTF, maybe they would have greater recognition, and hence greater public participation if they showed up at some of the big events with a stall to show people what they do and why they are needed and so encourage more people to get involved with them. For the majority of us they are a faceless organisation who we only think about when we have to stump up an extra fiver everytime we race - hardly a positive impression!
No, I wouldn't pay £120 to race London, and yes, I always make a point of smiling and saying thanks to all the race marshals I pass, unpaid volunteers are another wheel in the cog without whom we couldn't race.
As for the running of events, I think the companies such as Human Race and Big Cow do a great job, probably better than the BTF could do given limited resources. I've been involved with events/races run by the BTF and they do a decent job, but it has all been at development level, introducing kids to the sport. This includes alot of volunteer work from people within the regions. To me, leaving the BTF to run the grass roots and elite and the companies the calender races works well.
I do agree with comments that the BTF is somewhat faceless and would do well to be represented at events. I think it is a shame that more active athletes don't join the BTF to help support it, but if the perception is that all you get is a car sticker and a couple of quid off races then I can see why there are less members.
David.
Please feel free to suggest that I am wrong about this!