UK Athletics may not be able to afford

to stage meetings involving the world’s

best athletes in this country when the

BBC’s TV rights deal expires.

The Times revealed this week that the

BBC is not planning to renew its deal

with UKA, which is worth £2.3 million a

year to the governing body and ends

after next month’s British Athletics

Championships in Manchester.

Without significant funds from a

broadcaster, UKA simply could not

afford to stage its two Diamond League

events. UKA stages the Muller Anni-

versary Games in London and an event

in Gateshead — both of which were

cancelled this year because of the

pandemic — and insiders have

suggested that the cost of fees and

expenses for the athletes alone would

not be covered by ticket sales.

UKA has become concerned after

the BBC signed a last-minute deal with

World Athletics to stream five of the six

meetings that are going ahead this year,

including last night’s in Monaco.

Should the BBC pursue a rights deal

with World Athletics for future seasons,

it would affect UKA’s ability to negoti-

ate a new deal that includes the rights to

Britain’s Diamond League events.

For those who watch athletics on TV

in the UK, the BBC’s streaming deal did

come as a relief after the decision by

Eurosport not to show Diamond

League action this year. As well as

Monaco, the BBC has an agreement to

use the Diamond League’s feed from

Stockholm, Lausanne, Rome and Doha

this year. Only the Brussels event,

which clashes with the BBC’s coverage

of the British Athletics Championships

on September 4, will not be shown live.

Meanwhile, UKA is close to announc-

ing its new performance director. The

Times understands that Steve Paulding,

the interim incumbent, was unsuccess-

ful in his application. Sara Symington,

England Netball performance director,

is believed to be in contention.

British records fall in Monaco, page 18

Britain may

lose Diamond

League events

Matt Lawton

Chief Sports Correspondent

Sp ort

SATURDAY AUGUST 15 2020

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STU FORSTER/GETTY IMAGES/POOL