Examination of Witnesses (Questions 77
- 89)
THURSDAY 1 MARCH 2001
MR DAVID
MOORCROFT OBE, MR
LEN HATTON,
MR TERRY
COLTON, MR
SHAUN DAWSON
AND MR
SIMON EVANS
Chairman: Gentlemen, I welcome you here
today and Mr Wyatt will open the questioning.
Derek Wyatt
77. Good morning. I just wonder if you could
clarify the position; when you signed for the 2005 athletics,
did you sign that with the IAAF? Is that a formal contract you
have signed?
(Mr Moorcroft) When we were awarded the
World Athletics Championships in April there was a preliminary
document signed by UK Athletics. The IAAF awarded the event and
then negotiations take place in terms of the formal agreement.
The formal agreement involves a company called ISL who own all
the commercial rights on behalf of the IAAF, and it was recognised
by the IAAF that there was a certain anomaly (which was London)
and the assurance of the Government was sufficient for them and
still remains sufficient pending the discussions with the GLA
and others.
78. I am glad you mentioned ISL. As I understand
it, their ten-year contract with tennis will make them move into
the hands of the receivers within the next six to nine months.
What happens in that area? ISL have to return it back to the IAAF?
I guess what I am asking is does that make you exposed?
(Mr Moorcroft) The ISL issue does not involve us and
could be more of an opportunity than a threat because primarily
it is with the IAAF and the IAAF apparently are comfortable with
ISL's position commercially. They have delivered the money to
the IAAF that the IAAF are contracted to receive. The issue as
far as we are concerned, and it relates to Birmingham as well,
is that the contracts for 2005 and 2003 are still in negotiation.
We have sent back to the IAAF a number of comments that reflect
both UK Athletics' and the NIA and Birmingham's lawyers' views
on those contracts. They are with the IAAF. The contract negotiations
are still taking place. It is probably in our interests not to
be in any great hurry because of the ISL situation, but we are
in communication with the IAAF and both organisations are very
comfortable with the current situation.
79. There is a rumour, and I hope you will squash
it, that either you or the Government have been to Berlin to discuss
with the German Athletics Organisation for them to take the Games
in 2005 and we to have it in 2007. Is that true?
(Mr Moorcroft) That is not correct. I have never been
to Berlin. There is a similar rumour about Beijing as well. The
most recent conversation I have had with Professor Helmut Digel,
who until recently was the President of the German Federation
and is an IAAF Council member, is that he is squarely behind the
World Championships coming to Britain in 2005. I am not certain
of these facts, but he said that Berlin would not want the World
Athletics Championships in 2005 because they are organising and
very much involved with the World Cup of 2006. Whereas two or
three years ago they were potential candidates for 2005 because
they have now been awarded the World Cup Football that reduces
their enthusiasm. As far as we are concerned, there is no debate
either within this country or internationally in terms of any
other alternative.
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