Team Manual - About UKA

24 October 2007

UK Athletics (UKA) is the national governing body within Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the sport of athletics and is recognised as such by the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the British Olympic Association (BOA), the British Paralympic Association (BPA), the Sports Councils and all other bodies involved in the administration of the sport. The organisation of national and international competitions, trials and the selection of national teams require the establishment of national federations with certain exclusive powers and UKA is such a federation.

The ultimate goal of everyone involved within UKA and those selected for the GB & NI Team is to win medals for Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the Olympic and Paralympic Games and other designated international competitions.

The obligations and duties, which are put on you as a professional athlete, are conducive to your own professional development and to assist and enable you to have the opportunity to reach your full potential.

The obligations and duties, which UKA accepts, are conducive to the effective management of the GB & NI Team’s performance and UKA's commercial rights and are intended:

to create a culture where all elite athletes, their coaches and support networks accept and welcome a relationship with the governing body;

to continue the development of the Televised Event Programme and maintain its status as the world leader;

to significantly raise the profile of athletics and its athletic personalities in order to increase the level of general interest and to inspire talented individuals to become involved in the sport.

UKA oversees the development of athletics from grassroots right through to the Olympic Podium. The vision for UKA is to drive up performance and raise standards in every event, every region and every age group.

The purpose of UKA does not end at preparing athletes for the world stage. Not only does it create mass appeal of a truly breathtaking spectator sport through televised events, UKA also plays a fundamental role in developing a ‘sport for all’ by encouraging participation no matter what your age, ability or background.

The three primary roles of UKA are:

Governance: developing and implementing the rules and regulations of the sport, everything from anti-doping, health and safety and welfare through to training and education for coaches and officials and facility licensing.

Performance Development: to develop the sport from grassroots through to the podium. This includes the development of an appropriate competition framework to meet the needs of athletes at all levels and abilities. Nurturing athletes and preparing them for the world stage is achieved through the UKA World Class Performance programme and Home Nation Talent Development and support programmes.