Sponsorship row spoils Super 8 debut

 

AS the rain pelted down in Cardiff, the words ‘damp squib' sprung to mind.

TEETHING PROBLEMS: Sponsorship row forces GB internationals out of inaugural Super 8 and takes shine off new event

What was supposed to revolutionise athletics in the UK merely served to punctuate all that is wrong with the sport in this country.

Super8 is two hours jam packed with high-octane athletics, the UK's finest split into eight cities, blaring pop music, over-priced junk food - the works.

It is athletics' version of Twenty20 cricket. Sport for the nano-generation, who expect immediacy and accessibility over substance and tradition.

Super8 is the Americanisation of athletics. Not that that is a bad thing. Anything to get the turnstiles moving more frequently in a sport that has been dying a slow death in the UK for nearly 20 years can only be seen as positive.

Last night's Super8's unveiling was of paramount importance. With Cardiff holding the first, the other seven cities in attendance were invited to bid to hold the next in the hope a series would ensue.

After all, first impressions are everything.

The crowd was certainly more enthused than usual and once the first shot of the starter's gun was fired - everything seemed to go without a hitch.

There was just one problem. Britain's finest were not in attendance. Despite significant increases in prize money for the competitions, compared to recent events in the UK, and a heart-felt plea from UKA, as the clock ticked down to Cardiff - GB internationals fell by the wayside.

World and Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu had chosen to compete in a low-key event in the Parisian suburb of Montreuil, despite having previously confirmed she would captain London North.

The reason - a fixture mix-up. A shame Ohuruogu, so well supported by UKA when in her athletics exile could not repay the faith - but then the 25-year-old Londoner's time-keeping has not always been her strong point.

But the real killer blow came in a pathetic sponsorship row over the athletes' kits. A sport so tainted by the willingness of so many within it to put the dollar before decency, shot itself in the foot.

The revolution was crushed by a mere flick of the wrist of major sports manufacturer Nike.

Olympic bronze medallist and arguably Great Britain's most recognised athlete Kelly Sotherton - who was due to captain Birmingham - was forced to pull out at the last minute.

Sotherton is sponsored by Nike, who wanted their athletes to wear branded kit, but the Super 8 vest carries just the event logo and team name.

Middle-distance runner Hannah England and long jumper Greg Rutherford - both also sponsored by Nike - followed suit.

In their absence the event ran relatively smoothly but the point of the exercise was not intense competition, record times or glory for the victors. It was to make a statement.

While positives can be taken from the event and while teething problems were inevitable, Super 8 - as the gloomy Cardiff skies highlighted only too well - is far from watertight just yet.

George Scott presents the other side of the Super 8 coin........