Athletes Representation Guidance

This document has been produced to keep athletes, coaches and parents within Northern Ireland informed of their choices in relation to the Northern Ireland unique dual nationality position. The information below outlines the choices Northern Ireland athletes have when they are ready to make representative decisions.

Within Northern Ireland all citizens have the following birth right; It is the birth right of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, and accordingly to hold both British and Irish citizenship. This also applies to those with at least one parent who is a British citizen, an Irish Citizen or is otherwise entitled to reside in Northern Ireland without any restriction on their period of residence. This internationally recognised agreement called the Belfast Agreement is encompassed in legislation through the Northern Ireland Act 1998, it allows the citizens within Northern Ireland to choose their identity and subsequently hold either a British or Irish passport or both if desired.

Landscape

Sporting landscape in Northern Ireland The Northern Ireland Act 1998 impacts on every area of life in Northern Ireland and sport is not immune, however the Sporting Landscape within Northern Ireland is very complex and diverse. We have a combination of Governing Bodies within Northern Ireland; All Island bodies, British bodies and Northern Ireland bodies who all affiliate directly to either a European or an international federation. Subsequently the sporting pathways for athletes differ depending on the sport you play and its governing structure.

The landscape in Northern Ireland The governing body for canoeing in Northern Ireland is The Association of Northern Ireland (CANI).

The Canoeing Landscape in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales The governing body for canoeing in Ireland is Canoeing Ireland. The governing body for canoeing in England is British Canoeing. The governing body for Canoeing in Wales is . The governing body for canoeing in Scotland is the Scottish Canoe Association. British Canoeing is the national governing body which has a UK function with responsibility for the International and UK national functions recognised by the Federation, the European Canoe Association, UK

Sport, UK Anti-Doping, British Olympic Authority, British Paralympic Authority and accepted by each National Association as the lead in these areas.

The international Landscape The International Canoe Federation (ICF) is a membership organisation that is responsible for the global sport of canoeing and comprises of five Continental Associations and 164 National Federations. The ICF is the recognised international body for sport and has representatives for nine separate disciplines on its Board. There are thirteen competitive disciplines within canoeing which are , Paracanoe, , , Canoe Ocean Racing, Stand Up , , , , , Rafting, Surf and Wave ski. The ICF govern the competitive disciplines, full details of all of the disciplines of canoeing can be found HERE. The ICF recognises British Canoeing and Canoeing Ireland as a representative body, Northern Ireland is not an ICF representative body. Rafting and Surf Kayak are the only two disciplines of canoeing that are not recognised by the ICF and have their own association or federation which are, The World Surf Kayak Association and the International Rafting Federation.

CANI’s Commitment to the Northern Ireland Act All Governing Bodies in the UK and Ireland have a duty to honour this international agreement which both the British and Irish Governments have signed up to. To honour this agreement we must allow the people of Northern Ireland personal choice to identify themselves as British, Irish or both. Allowing personal choice however is not enough to ensure compliance with the legislation we also have a duty to promote the right of an athlete in Northern Ireland to compete for Great Britain as well as Ireland. In trying to fulfil this duty CANI have consulted with British Canoeing and Canoeing Ireland to produce this information leaflet.

Representation

The representative choice available to a Northern Ireland Athlete This following outlines the routes within Northern Ireland, the UK and Ireland for any canoeing athlete from Northern Ireland to become an national / international canoeing athlete. CANI wants to ensure that any canoeing athlete from Northern Ireland can make an informed decision regards their potential canoeing career. A Northern Ireland athlete can choose which nation they would like to represent and have the option to switch nation throughout their career.

Northern Ireland Representation The events Northern Ireland athletes can represent Northern Ireland at are; • Irish, Home nation, The UK School Games (Sprint kayak) • Irish, Home nation and Pan Celtic (Slalom) • Commonwealth Games (Not currently an event for canoeing) • Irish, Home nation, European and World Championships (Surf Kayak) • Irish, Home nation, International events which are not ICF organised. (Canoe Polo)

International Representation Northern Ireland athletes can choose to represent either British Canoeing or Canoeing Ireland at European, World and Olympic ICF events. To be entitled for representation Northern Ireland athletes

must meet the representation and selection criteria laid out by British Canoeing or Canoeing Ireland. Northern Ireland athletes can only represent one country at a time as detailed in the ICF rules which are summarised below. Northern Ireland athletes must be a member of the relevant national governing body either British Canoeing (CANI) or Canoeing Ireland when representing a national team.

To switch representation A Northern Ireland athlete that has competed internationally at any level in the last three years requires authorisation from the ICF and the national federation of the original country in order to change sporting nationality. Example – if an athlete is representing British Canoeing and wishes to change to Canoeing Ireland, British Canoeing must release the athlete. When switching representation, the athlete must have both a letter of release from the country they are leaving, and a letter of acceptance from the country which they will join, this letter of acceptance does not guarantee selection. The request of the change of nationality must be made in writing to the ICF no later than the 30th November the year before the competitor wants to compete. For the Olympic Games the Olympic Charter rules will be applied for nationality issues. For athletes to be eligible for the Olympic and Paralympic Games they must hold a current passport of the country that they participate for at the time of the qualification event. A Northern Ireland athlete cannot compete for British Canoeing and Canoeing Ireland in any one calendar year (1 January to 31 December). The same procedure and rules apply, should a Northern Ireland athlete decide he/she wants to change back to compete for his/her Federation of origin: A Northern Ireland athlete will not be able to do so if they have already competed internationally at any level in that calendar year and will have to wait until the following year. The Northern Ireland athlete will need to obtain a release/approval in writing from the Federation they have been competing for. The release/approval will be submitted by British Canoeing to the ICF for its approval (submitted by 30th November) for the Competitor to compete for a new country in the following year. To be eligible to compete at an Olympic / Paralympic Games for another country an athlete must not have represented any other National Federation in international competition within the last three years.

If an athlete who lives in Northern Ireland represents British Canoeing, but wants to change later to compete for Canoeing Ireland, they must show proof to the ICF that they actually reside in Ireland (not just that they have the right to residence if they want to live there) or hold a current Irish passport. Otherwise they will need a three year gap of not competing internationally to be able to make the change.

Eligibility

British Canoeing Eligibility In addition to the International Canoe Federation rules a Northern Ireland athlete wishing to be on a UK Sport funded programme he/she must meet the eligibility criteria shown HERE

Canoeing Ireland Eligibility In addition to the International Canoe Federation rules a Northern Ireland athlete wishing to be on a Sport Ireland funded programme he/she must hold a valid Irish passport, or a valid U.K. passport that shows the holder’s birthplace to be in Northern Ireland.

Pathway This details the pathway for an athlete from Northern Ireland to enter a British Canoeing or Canoeing Ireland programme to compete at international events.

British Canoeing pathway A Northern Ireland Athlete who aspires to compete for team GB will start within a CANI performance programme which will be similar to an English, Scottish and Welsh Programme. Each nation has its own talent / performance pathway which aims to feed athletes into the UK programme. A CANI athlete has the choice to remain on a CANI programme and travel to a British Canoeing world class programme activity or to relocate to a British Canoeing national programme base. Above the CANI programme is the UK programme which includes Podium Potential and Podium programmes, full details are HERE. The British Canoeing selection policies are detailed HERE

Canoeing Ireland Pathway A Northern Ireland athlete wishing to compete for Team Ireland must gain selection as detailed in the Canoeing Ireland selection policies which are detailed HERE under the discipline tab. If an athlete is selected they will enter the national team and be eligible for selection at international events.