Great Ireland Run - None of your entry goes to charity!

murphyebass

Hi guys,

I just wanted to make people aware of the charity situation with this run as I wasnt aware of it myself.

I originally signed up for the jack and jill on the site when entering but when I got talking to the charity involved they told me that they get nothing from the €30 entry.

Now I've done many runs in the past few years and have never done one where zero of my entry fee goes to the charity involved so I wasnt sure whether to believe this or not.

However I contacted the greatireland run organisers who confirmed that the charities involved get absolutely none of the €30 entry.

Now I completely understand the charities make money from sponsorship and its great exposure for them, however I dont think that takes away from the fact that the have thousands of people paying into this event who would assume that at least some of their €30 was going to their specified charity.

I have sent a strongly worded email to the organisers to show my disgust for this and would urge others to the same.

Considering theres a lot of voluteering at the event it cant be just costs.
So where is the money going?

Anyway, I'm doing the run on Sunday but like others I'm sure entered late and didnt get time to get a sponsorship card filled in and thought sure at least I'm contributing with my entry.

Hopefully in the future they can even give a small amount to the charities considering the volume of people doing the run even a fiver from the entry would be a decent amount of money going to charity.

/rant.

ps mod you can move this wherever you think appropriate. I put it here as it was to do with an event.

TRR

this is the norm. Or sometimes they give a very small % to charity. You're right though it is annoying and the site is worded to lead you to believe that money goes to the charity!

murphyebass

TRR wrote: »

this is the norm. Or sometimes they give a very small % to charity. You're right though it is annoying and the site is worded to lead you to believe that money goes to the charity!

Not always a small amount. Cant remember what one it was last year as I did a few but most of the money went to charity.

But yeah I agree I think your led to believe that its going to the charity as you have to pick the charity etc..

Anyway made me very angry, I suppose in particular as its such a huge event with so many people there even a small contribution to charity from each entry would be a very sizeable figure.

TRR

murphyebass wrote: »

Not always a small amount. Cant remember what one it was last year as I did a few but most of the money went to charity.

You're right there are a lot of races where 100% of the money goes to charity but generally the big corporate/privately run ones that have a tie in charity give nothing directly or very little.

Krusty_Clown

If charity is your motivation for participating in a race then you should definitely contact the race organizers before signing up. So many of them 'associate' themselves with a charity without providing any funding. I can't help but feel that the charities themselves are a little complicit in this regard, as if they felt particularly bad about the whole process, they wouldn't associate themselves with the commercial race, but they're happy to try and eek out any funding they can put their hands on.

murphyebass

TRR wrote: »

You're right there are a lot of races where 100% of the money goes to charity but generally the big corporate/privately run ones that have a tie in charity give nothing directly or very little.

Right maybe thats why I havent come across this before as I've done smaller 10k runs previous to this.

That said the great ireland run was my first run about 5 years ago but I had no idea at that point or right up until this point that my entry didnt go to charity.

After I've gotten over the initial shock I just think its very sad that when such a high profile event is taking place that nothing of the very large entry sees a charity. It just doesnt seem right whatever way you look at it.

murphyebass

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

If charity is your motivation for participating in a race then you should definitely contact the race organizers before signing up. So many of them 'associate' themselves with a charity without providing any funding. I can't help but feel that the charities themselves are a little complicit in this regard, as if they felt particularly bad about the whole process, they wouldn't associate themselves with the commercial race, but they're happy to try and eek out any funding they can put their hands on.

No your missing the point here. Of course any charity would want to be associated with the event.

As I said in my op they get great exposure and make good sums of money off sponsorship cards.

But my point is how many people dont get sponsorship thinkin that they have passed on 30quid or something to the charity they chose when signing up?

Some people dont like collecting for charities and a portion going from the entry is a nice way of doing it.

Some people havent got time or just plain couldnt be bother getting sponsorship.

So look to sum up its not an event without merit. Of course a lot of good comes from it but for me its just seems a bit shadey in the way they dont make it very known that your entry isnt going to charity.

A lot of people including myself would just assume some or all goes to the charity you choose.

ps: I'm no saint. My motivation for doing this event is for me. It is to kick start me training for the year. However I would have assumed I was giving something to charity at the same time which is a feel good factor I suppose.

Peckham

I've taken a brief look at the website. Where does it say that the money goes to charity? It gives links to charity websites alright, but nothing that would suggest that money is going to those charities (in fact, it clearly distinguishes between charities and event partners). Unless it says something different on the entry form?

murphyebass

Peckham wrote: »

I've taken a brief look at the website. Where does it say that the money goes to charity? It gives links to charity websites alright, but nothing that would suggest that money is going to those charities (in fact, it clearly distinguishes between charities and event partners). Unless it says something different on the entry form?

It doesnt Peckham. I have already said I assumed all or some of my entry went to charity and I'm not alone on this.

A friend of mine is doing the race on Sunday and also assumed so I thats 2 for 2 and I would also assume out of the thousands doing the race we're not alone in this assumption.

Peckham

Okay, fair enough.

I wouldn't reach the same assumption from looking at their website. I'd assume the charity page is merely some suggestions of charities that you could run for if you wished. This is quite common for the larger races (for example, Dublin marathon has some designated charities listed on their site, but I wouldn't assume they get a donation out of my entry fee).

As to your question about where your money is going - there's a discussion elsewhere about the profits and dividends that the company behind this event produces.

Krusty_Clown

murphyebass wrote: »

No your missing the point here. Of course any charity would want to be associated with the event.

As I said in my op they get great exposure and make good sums of money off sponsorship cards.

But my point is how many people dont get sponsorship thinkin that they have passed on 30quid or something to the charity they chose when signing up?

Some people dont like collecting for charities and a portion going from the entry is a nice way of doing it.

Some people havent got time or just plain couldnt be bother getting sponsorship.

So look to sum up its not an event without merit. Of course a lot of good comes from it but for me its just seems a bit shadey in the way they dont make it very known that your entry isnt going to charity.

A lot of people including myself would just assume some or all goes to the charity you choose.

ps: I'm no saint. My motivation for doing this event is for me. It is to kick start me training for the year. However I would have assumed I was giving something to charity at the same time which is a feel good factor I suppose.

I'm not missing any point. I assumed that it was a commercial race and not a damn cent would go to charity. I am professing the opinion that if charity is one of your motivations, then check it out before you sign up, not afterwards. Commercial races have no scruples when it comes to using charities to sell more race numbers. Assume that the charity is getting nothing (but a bit of publicity) until the race organizers prove otherwise.

average_runner

murphyebass wrote: »

It doesnt Peckham. I have already said I assumed all or some of my entry went to charity and I'm not alone on this.

A friend of mine is doing the race on Sunday and also assumed so I thats 2 for 2 and I would also assume out of the thousands doing the race we're not alone in this assumption.

Unless it says it is giving money to the charity on the website, i wouldnt assume anything.

They are very clear on their website about it.

murphyebass

average_runner wrote: »

Unless it says it is giving money to the charity on the website, i wouldnt assume anything.

They are very clear on their website about it.

I would strongly disagree with that statement. And I think the proof is in the pudding when both myself and friend assumed there would be something given to charity from the entry.

The fact that we assumed would suggest to me that we're more than likely not the only ones to do so. The reason for this is the heavy linkage of charity to the event.

Bottom line is its not ok to have thousands of people paying 30euro and have none of it going to charity.

This should be raised with the organisers by as many of us running in the event as possible show them that this isnt right!

Anyway you can lock this thread mods as it doesnt need to become a "you should have looked closer at the site and not assumed anything" thread.

Thanks.

Krusty_Clown

murphyebass wrote: »

Bottom line is its not ok to have thousands of people paying 30euro and have none of it going to charity.

Complete and utter nonsense. Unless they actually lie, and say some of the money is going to charity then there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

Peckham

murphyebass wrote: »

The reason for this is the heavy linkage of charity to the event.

What do you mean by this? Opening the website, for example I see Spar's logo twice, an IAAF logo and a generic race photo. Nothing there suggests charity. Granted on the links down the left, there is one for charities, but this is below "AAI National Championships", "Elite Athletes" and "Celebrities".

I've plenty of issues with this race, but it's not one that I would consider to be straddling that shaky link between "road race" and "charity event". In fact, I'd consider the Women's Mini Marathon and Dublin Marathon (and marathons generally) to be more associated with charity because so many people fundraise when doing those events. And I don't think those specific events make a charity donation from the entry fee. (Am open to correction on this though).

Quite the contrary, I'd associate this as one of the more serious racing events in the calendar - in that it serves as the National 10k Championship and also brings some international heavy hitters into an Irish race.

menoscemo

Peckham wrote: »

I've plenty of issues with this race, but it's not one that I would consider to be straddling that shaky link between "road race" and "charity event". In fact, I'd consider the Women's Mini Marathon and Dublin Marathon (and marathons generally) to be more associated with charity because so many people fundraise when doing those events. And I don't think those specific events make a charity donation from the entry fee. (Am open to correction on this though).

I remember seeing on the FB page for DCM that they made sizeable donations to a few charities about a month after the race. I don't think they publicise this though and don't say they x amount of the entry fee goes to charity or anything.

huskerdu

menoscemo wrote: »

I remember seeing on the FB page for DCM that they made sizeable donations to a few charities about a month after the race. I don't think they publicise this though and don't say they x amount of the entry fee goes to charity or anything.

Sadly, I dont think the DCM will be giving money to charitable causes at the moment, as it is a charitable cause itself this year.

dna_leri

murphyebass wrote: »

I would strongly disagree with that statement. And I think the proof is in the pudding when both myself and friend assumed there would be something given to charity from the entry.

The fact that we assumed would suggest to me that we're more than likely not the only ones to do so. The reason for this is the heavy linkage of charity to the event.

Bottom line is its not ok to have thousands of people paying 30euro and have none of it going to charity.

This should be raised with the organisers by as many of us running in the event as possible show them that this isnt right!

Anyway you can lock this thread mods as it doesnt need to become a "you should have looked closer at the site and not assumed anything" thread.

Thanks.

Why is it that running events are expected to give to charity? Why do some people assume this?

When 80000 people pay €80 for an all-ireland final ticket, how much of this goes to charity? What about horse racing or golf?

If you want to do something for charity, go ahead. If you want to run, fine. Bottom line is just because you do one does not mean you must do the other.

/rant

TRR

Lads, the OP says he thinks he was led astray, I can see where he is coming from.

ecoli

TRR wrote: »

Lads, the OP says he thinks he was led astray, I can see where he is coming from.

Looking at the site though you actually have to go looking for the charities as there is not one logo on the front page

I think its more an assumption of people that these should be fund raising events which has been associated with mass participation events in recent years as the sport is now being seen as a cash cow for sports clubs and charities alike

dechol

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Complete and utter nonsense. Unless they actually lie, and say some of the money is going to charity then there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

+1

TRR

ecoli wrote: »

Looking at the site though you actually have to go looking for the charities as there is not one logo on the front page

I think its more an assumption of people that these should be fund raising events which has been associated with mass participation events in recent years as the sport is now being seen as a cash cow for sports clubs and charities alike

I think when you register something about asking do you want to run for chosen charity is asked. Sure how would we know ecoli, we are too good to use the online system

But yes would agree it's not very obvious, it was definitely worse in years gone by as I remember about 5 years ago I sent the organisers a letter similar to what the OP has done

rasher_m

TRR wrote: »

I think when you register something about asking do you want to run for chosen charity is asked. Sure how would we know ecoli, we are too good to use the online system

But yes would agree it's not very obvious, it was definitely worse in years gone by as I remember about 5 years ago I sent the organisers a letter similar to what the OP has done

Yeah, i have to agree with the OP as well. Even my dad said doesn't that race give so much to charity. I was trying to recall why I thought money went to charity and TRR just reminded me why.
...About 5 years ago... I think they made it look like they were giving money to the Marie Keating Foundation. I know I thought so at the time. It turned out Ronan Keating was running the race and getting some publicity for his charity.

TRR

rasher_m wrote: »

Yeah, i have to agree with the OP as well. Even my dad said doesn't that race give so much to charity. I was trying to recall why I thought money went to charity and TRR just reminded me why.
...About 5 years ago... I think they made it look like they were giving money to the Marie Keating Foundation. I know I thought so at the time. It turned out Ronan Keating was running the race and getting some publicity for his charity.

Yes nail on the head, I think they have made it less ambiguous now though although maybe not so based on the OPs experience.

The worst culprit was the Movember run in the Phoenix park. Originally they gave absolutely nothing to charity but a year or two back they started to donate to cancer charities (10% according to their website)

http://dublin.mo-running.com/fundraising/

Now if I was new to running I would assume 100% of profits for a movember run where going to charity!

rasher_m

TRR wrote: »

Yes nail on the head, I think they have made it less ambiguous now though although maybe not so based on the OPs experience.

The worst culprit was the Movember run in the Phoenix park. Originally they gave absolutely nothing to charity but a year or two back they started to donate to cancer charities (10% according to their website)

http://dublin.mo-running.com/fundraising/

Now if I was new to running I would assume 100% of profits for a movember run where going to charity!

Yeah thats a disgrace calling it 'Movember'...pure exploitation like.

The thing is whether you're new to running or not is reading the small print and these organisers know that most people don't (unless they're bored or have a personal interest) and so it leads to assumptions etc which is what the organisers are counting on.

Timmaay

murphyebass wrote: »

It doesnt Peckham. I have already said I assumed all or some of my entry went to charity and I'm not alone on this.

Assumption is the mother of all f**kups as the diehard saying goes :P, you probably should have checked up beforehand. This whole charity bandwagoning thing has really got old now, I do consider myself a charitable enough person and all that, but I run primarily for myown motivation and fitness . I do usually do afew races every year specifically for charity if I feel they are worth it etc, most of these races they clearly advertise that all the profits etc go to charity, and once I feel as if the entry fee is worthy I am happy with it.

But a hell of alot of charity races are either badly organised by non athletes trying to fundraiser a quick buck for their charity (an attitude of "what will we do to fundraise, hmm lets do a race, there are lots of charity races so they must bring in loads of handy money!"), or the case of the for profit races, "we are evil money making gangsters unless we say its a charity race (10% going to charity will cover our asses)". I avoid most of these if they don't look like good value.

All other races I do I will consider them on a case by case bases, I might pay 20/25quid at a push for a very good race that is a good course/easy to get to etc, but 30quid for a bad course, big crowds, hassle with parking etc, which is what the GIR is in my view is certainly not worth it, so I'll vote with my feet and go to any of the many local club/bhaa etc races which usually can be entered for between 5 and 15euros, with proper organization and generally hassle free for the athletics.

rasher_m

Timmaay wrote: »

Assumption is the mother of all f**kups as the diehard saying goes :P, you probably should have checked up beforehand. This whole charity bandwagoning thing has really got old now, I do consider myself a charitable enough person and all that, but I run primarily for myown motivation and fitness . I do usually do afew races every year specifically for charity if I feel they are worth it etc, most of these races they clearly advertise that all the profits etc go to charity, and once I feel as if the entry fee is worthy I am happy with it. But a hell of alot of charity races are either badly organised by non athletes trying to fundraiser a quick buck for their charity (an attitude of "what will we do to fundraise, hmm lets do a race, there are lots of charity races so they must bring in loads of handy money!"), or the case of the for profit races, "we are evil money making gangsters unless we say its a charity race (10% going to charity will cover our asses)". I avoid most of these if they don't look like good value. All other races I do I will consider them on a case by case bases, I might pay 20/25quid at a push for a very good race that is a good course/easy to get to etc, but 30quid for a bad course, big crowds, hassle with parking etc, which is what the GIR is in my view is certainly not worth it, so I'll vote with my feet and go to any of the many local club/bhaa etc races which usually can be entered for between 5 and 15euros, with proper organization and generally hassle free for the athletics.

Yeah the whole beating your man up who started a thread about not giving money to charity has got old too. :rolleyes:
You'd swear reading your email there that you never enetered a dud race in your life. I'd say its more a case that you entered so many that you now 'vote with your feet and go to any of the many local club/bhaa etc races which usually can be entered for between 5 and 15euros, with proper organization and generally hassle free for the athletics' and I'd say the same can be said for the ones thanking you as well.

Timmaay

rasher_m wrote: »

Yeah the whole beating your man up who started a thread about not giving money to charity has got old too. :rolleyes:
You'd swear reading your email there that you never enetered a dud race in your life. I'd say its more a case that you entered so many that you now 'vote with your feet and go to any of the many local club/bhaa etc races which usually can be entered for between 5 and 15euros, with proper organization and generally hassle free for the athletics' and I'd say the same can be said for the ones thanking you as well.

Ha I did use a :P with my assumption comment, that wasn't my main point, and trust me I got "stung" enough times in my early years by poor standard races. But anyways, I'm more trying to highlight the fact that many charities/for profit groups generally target these "easy fish" novice competitors, which is theirown choice, considering it clearly works for GIR with what, 10,000 people entered. I refrained in my previous comment from saying that it is a lost opportunity from a club point of view, who I would love to see receiving many more of these competitors to their local good value races. I probably sound like a broken record by now in blasting Athletics Ireland for not doing more, in terms of providing clubs support and a template/website etc to allow them to attract these novice competitors to their races which will help bring money into grassroutes athletics, but nope, it seems very obvious by now that Athletics Ireland have the blinkers on and seem to be getting some sort of cut out of all these big commercial races.

So yes, I'll fully admit that I am an "experienced" athlete by now and am able to vote with my feet, I don't apologies for having the viewpoint and trying to get it across here that many races are just jumping on the charity bandwagon and that I would prefer to see club races etc get a bigger slice of the cake as they do ample enough "charity/volunteer" work with local grassroutes athletics.

rasher_m

Timmaay wrote: »

Ha I did use a :P with my assumption comment, that wasn't my main point, and trust me I got "stung" enough times in my early years by poor standard races. But anyways, I'm more trying to highlight the fact that many charities/for profit groups generally target these "easy fish" novice competitors, which is theirown choice, considering it clearly works for GIR with what, 10,000 people entered. I refrained in my previous comment from saying that it is a lost opportunity from a club point of view, who I would love to see receiving many more of these competitors to their local good value races. I probably sound like a broken record by now in blasting Athletics Ireland for not doing more, in terms of providing clubs support and a template/website etc to allow them to attract these novice competitors to their races which will help bring money into grassroutes athletics, but nope, it seems very obvious by now that Athletics Ireland have the blinkers on and seem to be getting some sort of cut out of all these big commercial races.

So yes, I'll fully admit that I am an "experienced" athlete by now and am able to vote with my feet, I don't apologies for having the viewpoint and trying to get it across here that many races are just jumping on the charity bandwagon and that I would prefer to see club races etc get a bigger slice of the cake as they do ample enough "charity/volunteer" work with local grassroutes athletics.

I'm glad you made your main point obvious in this email because you banged on about a totally different thing until your last two sentences in your last one which is why I responded

Everyone on this site is behind you 100% about supporting athletics in Ireland and we all know theres no money in it and it makes everyone sick.

Krusty_Clown

rasher_m wrote: »

Yeah the whole beating your man up who started a thread about not giving money to charity has got old too. :rolleyes:
You'd swear reading your email there that you never enetered a dud race in your life. I'd say its more a case that you entered so many that you now 'vote with your feet and go to any of the many local club/bhaa etc races which usually can be entered for between 5 and 15euros, with proper organization and generally hassle free for the athletics' and I'd say the same can be said for the ones thanking you as well.

Nobody is beating up the OP. Nobody has written anything derogatory about the poster, however, the points they raised have been discussed, which is pretty standard behaviour on a discussion forum. That's how it works.

I thanked Timmaay's post because I agree with his sentiment; that races and charity should be logically separate, and the assumption (or in the poster's view stipulation) that any race must have have a charity element, is in my view short-sighted. Given that Timmaay has organized many races (mostly for charity and fund-raising) I respect and value his opinion on the subject.

rom

It should be illegal for a charity to be associated with a for profit event.

Personally I choose a race due to the level of professionalism on how the race is conducted. I personally don't care where the money is going as it is naive to expect that money that goes to charity is spent well or on where it counts.

I know someone who raises money for charity but never gives money to the charity he raises but if they need to upgrade one of the houses that they use for care he gets a fitted kitchen, appliances etc. Never money. Like the HSE most charities CEO's in Ireland are on over 100k per year. It's a career and not a vocation.

e.g. Michael Fingleton was the CEO of concern at one stage. Why would an account want to to be a CEO of a charity ? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Fingleton

I was contacted by a charity that I was stepping on someones toes as I did something voluntary (which I got clearance from them initially) to fundraise for them. I was essentially doing this persons job for them and they didn't like this. I told her she could had a choice accept the donation or if she has any problem then I can find another charity that would gladly accept it.

So next time you setup a http://www.mycharity.ie/ page, have a look at their accounts which they have to publish to see are you just paying high wages with your hard effort. My recommendation is raise money yourself, don't give them cheque or cash but ask them what they need and buy it so you know your money is going to the cause.

rasher_m

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Nobody is beating up the OP. Nobody has written anything derogatory about the poster, however, the points they raised have been discussed, which is pretty standard behaviour on a discussion forum. That's how it works.

I thanked Timmaay's post because I agree with his sentiment; that races and charity should be logically separate, and the assumption (or in the poster's view stipulation) that any race must have have a charity element, is in my view short-sighted. Given that Timmaay has organized many races (mostly for charity and fund-raising) I respect and value his opinion on the subject.

I think you're a little dramatic but I can appreciate your point in the second paragraph.

Krusty_Clown

rasher_m wrote: »

I think you're a little dramatic but I can appreciate your point in the second paragraph.

I think you're confusing eloquence for drama.

rasher_m

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

I think you're confusing eloquence for drama.

Is that you or your ego talking :rolleyes:

Krusty_Clown

rasher_m wrote: »

Is that you or your ego talking :rolleyes:

I was making light of the fact that you misinterpreted the tone in my post. It seems that if I disagree with your point of view, I am being over dramatic or egotistical. Good stuff rasher. Pleasure talking to you.

TRR

rasher_m wrote: »

Is that you or your ego talking :rolleyes:

It's impossible to disentangle the man from the ego

drquirky

rasher_m wrote: »

Is that you or your ego talking :rolleyes:

Wow....bit of a leap there eh? Someone piss in your cornflakes?

Krusty_Clown

TRR wrote: »

It's impossible to disentangle the man from the ego

Haha. Perhaps you're right. I should take a much-needed break from Boards after London. But who'll fix your Garmins?!
<checks to see if the KC account is taken>

TRR

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Haha. Perhaps you're right. I should take a much-needed break from Boards after London. But who'll fix your Garmins?!
<checks to see if the KC account is taken>

It's the satellites we need to fix KC, the satellites I tell ya

Krusty_Clown

rasher_m wrote: »

Not at all Krusty, I think you're a fantastic runner and a real credit to this site....hope your ego isn't bruised

If I took offence from the midnight musings of every keyboard warrior, I'd have deleted my account a long time ago. Thankfully, this forum is full of a lot of good people with sage advice, for whom the site is more about the running than the posting.

T runner

I would have to agree with the OP. There is a charities Tab on the event webpage with 3 charities described in it. It would be a reasonable assumption for anyone who has not being cynicised by bitter experience to assume that some of the entry fee goes to each of these charities. Otherwise, why have they been singled out/shortlisted. The era of caveat emptor is over. Under EU regulstions a seller must not indulge in misleading or deceptive provision or omission of information that causes or is likely to cause the average consumer to make a different decision. Having a charities tab with detailed descriptions of 3 charities and omitting to mention that not a penny of the money payed towards the product goes to a charity is enough to deceive the average consumer. Watching the GIR live and i hear Brendan foster say the word charity several times, and i know that the misleading of punters in great runs in this regard is probably worth 100,000s to brendan foster and nova int. Yearly. That is why the practice may be illegal and that is why anyone who believes in genuine charity races should consider boycotting this event which misleads 1000s of
charitible runners away from genuine charity events.


I think its a good assumption that if the average punter is mislead by information on a money making website that makes them more likely to purchase a product, then the seller can be assumed to have either deliberately mislead or be ignorant of their own product.

All that said, i dont like brendan foster, the nepotism i perceive in him commentating with national broadcasters on his own money making enterprises on both sides of the irish sea, and his profile as some sort of messiah for african athletics which ill wager has been carefully cultivated through the BBC. I honestly, wish the AAI would end its association with this event. Apologies if my opinion re charities is biased as a result.

TRR

Out at the race today and I reckon the commentators/pa guys thought they were commentating on the London marathon. Everyone they spoke to was running for some charity or another

rom

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

But who'll fix your Garmins?

Garmin :P

Timmaay

T runner wrote: »

All that said, i dont like brendan foster, the nepotism i perceive in him commentating with national broadcasters on his own money making enterprises on both sides of the irish sea, and his profile as some sort of messiah for african athletics which ill wager has been carefully cultivated through the BBC. I honestly, wish the AAI would end its association with this event. Apologies if my opinion re charities is biased as a result.

I mentioned earlier in the thread about Athletics Ireland missing the opportunity with this running boom to help the clubs promote theirown races, going one step further I just wish they would have the foresight also to try and have more control of the likes of these races and use them as a revenue source themselves. Someone mentioned here that at 80quid a ticket for the All Ireland you don't expect it to go to charity, I'm not a fan of the GAA but I'll give them massive credit for the way they have gone about their business with an excellent club system and very professional setup when it comes to the intercounties etc. Could you imagine a setup where Athletics Ireland have direct control of alot of these larger races, such as the GIR etc etc (athletics is more of a participant sport, not a spectator sport, so the likes of the GIR would be their All Ireland final as such). Anyways they'd have a very nice steady source of revenue, (instead of at the minute where it goes into the pocket of the likes of Brendan Foster), which assuming they actually went about their business correctly they could invest directly back into athletics in Ireland, in both helping discover the next Sonias, and then bringing them through to their full potential.

Ok I'm all rants on this thread and maybe have dragged it off topic, sorry about that!