26th May 2020,

Sebastian Coe,

President,

World Athletics,

Dear President Coe,

We hope you are staying safe and keeping well during this global public health emergency.

We are writing to express our concern to you and regarding the ‘Political Boundary Rule’, which is currently imposed by World Athletics in Ireland.

We believe this rule has no place in post Good Friday Agreement Ireland as it serves no purpose and only creates division on our shared island. We also note that during the recent Brexit negotiations the fact that there are unique circumstances on the island of Ireland was widely accepted in Europe and internationally. We are simply asking for formal acknowledgement of this reality by World Athletics.

We would be pleased to provide further clarification and would like to work with you, and any other interested parties, to bring this matter to an acceptable conclusion.

With regard to the above, we would highlight the following:

1. Correspondence with

Following our meeting with Athletics Ireland and Sports Ireland on October 15th 2019, Mr Hamish Adams, CEO of Athletics Ireland informed us on 21st January 2020 that World Athletics issued the following statement to Athletics Ireland:

“Further to the previous discussions you had with us regarding the representation of athletes from your Federation in WAS Competitions, we had referred the matter to our legal team and they have informed us that the current position on the geographical area covered by a member of World Athletics is decided by the definition of Country as set out in its Constitution. In the Athletic Association of Ireland case, this means the ”

2. Inconsistencies

We believe this response from World Athletics to Athletics Ireland raises inconsistencies with the Articles of Association of Athletics Ireland and World Athletics. It is difficult for us to understand the above statement. We are sure you are aware that in 1999 IAAF and U.K. Athletics accepted that Athletics Ireland can organize throughout the island of Ireland, not just the Republic of Ireland.

3. The 1999 Agreement for Athletic Association in Ireland

The 1999 agreement between the National Athletic Cultural Association of Ireland (N.A.C.A.I.), Bord Lúthchleas na hÉireann (B.L.E.) and Athletics Northern Ireland (A.N.I.), which established Athletics Ireland to be an All-Ireland Body at home and at international level, was endorsed by all parties in Ireland, UK Athletics and the IAAF (World Athletics). The agreement stated the following:

• This agreement written in one part governs the in the island of Ireland.

This agreement between the parties recognizes the right of the International Amateur Athletic Federations member with jurisdiction in Ireland, to organize Athletics throughout the Island of Ireland.

The articles of association of Athletics Ireland, state the following:

• The main object of A.I. is to foster and develop Athletics on the Island of Ireland.

• Ireland means the Island of Ireland.

• Provincial Councils may be formed in each of the four Provinces of Ireland.

• County Boards may be formed in each of the 32 Counties of Ireland.

4. IAAF Statement – 4th of November 1999

In a letter to Chris Wall international secretary of B.L.E (Irish Athletics Board) dated the 4th November 1999 Istvan Gyulai general secretary of the IAAF stated:

“Thank you for your letter dated 13th of October 1999 outlining as you did proposals for the formation of the Athletics association of Ireland. The international Amateur Athletic Federation is pleased to support the intent of this document and recognizes its proposals for the restructuring of our sport on the island of Ireland.”

5. All Ireland recognition already secured for Olympic Games

When Ireland goes to the Olympic Games we go under the authority of The Olympic Federation of Ireland, which represents the island of Ireland in all sports including athletics and is known as ‘Team Ireland’. The Olympic Federation of Ireland have stated that athletes from Northern Ireland have the option of participating under its auspices on an All-Ireland Team or in the Olympic Team. For example, brothers Mark and Paul Gleghorne - hockey players from Antrim - went to The Olympic Games in Rio in 2016, Paul represented Team Ireland and Mark represented Team Great Britain.

29 athletes from Northern Ireland, across seven sports with six in , went to the Rio Olympics; 8 competed for Team Great Britain and 21 competed for Team Ireland.

We believe this is the way forward, with athletes allowed to choose which country they wish to represent, with no political boundary rule in operation and with no discrimination of any kind.

6. Cycling obtain derogation

In 1988 applied to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for a derogation from its political boundary rule for Ireland and were successful and now represents the island of Ireland at all international cycling competitions.

If the International Olympic Committee, The Union Cycliste International and many other International sporting organisations accept Ireland as the island of Ireland, why then should the people of this country accept the current approach of World Athletics.

7. The Good Friday agreement

The Good Friday Agreement is an international Treaty between the Irish and British Governments and is registered with the United Nations. The agreement states the following:

‘‘The power of The sovereign Government with jurisdiction there shall be exercised with rigorous impartiality on behalf of all the people in the diversity of their identities and traditions and shall be founded on the principles of full respect for, and equality of, civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, of freedom from discrimination for all citizens, and parity of esteem and of just and equal treatment for the identity, ethos, and aspirations of both communities.’’

The Irish and British governments explicitly agreed in the Good Friday Agreement that they "recognise the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, and accordingly confirm that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both Governments and would not be affected by any future change in the status of Northern Ireland."

8. In breach of the Good Friday Agreement and a Denial of Rights

It is our view that the approach adopted by World Athletics is in breach of the Good Friday Agreement. We also believe that the rights of the citizens of the island of Ireland are being denied. In particular we are concerned that the right to identify and be accepted as British or Irish or both is not being respected.

We believe the issues in question involve basics principles of human rights, equality, mutual respect, and the right to choose. These are the ethical pillars that the Good Friday Agreement rest on. Under World Athletics rules, athletes from Northern Ireland have a choice to compete for team Great Britain or the Republic of Ireland. Over the last twenty years, the vast majority have declared for the Republic of Ireland.

As a result of World Athletics political boundary rule a team representing the island or Ireland is not allowed to participate at European and World Championships. This discrimination is denying Irish Athletes the opportunity to represent the island of Ireland and in our opinion is in breach of the Good Friday agreement.

9. Granting a Derogation

World Athletics state the following in its own Articles of Association,

“World Athletics will strive to secure that there shall be no hindrance to participation of any country or individual in athletics competitions on racial, religious or political ground and to ensure that there be no such hindrance in athletics meetings over which World Athletics has control.”

We are asking World Athletics to honour this Article by granting a derogation to Ireland from its 1934 ‘Political Boundary Rule’ and recognize Ireland as the territory of the ‘Island of Ireland’. This would respect everybody’s rights and give Irish Athletes the honour of representing the island of Ireland at European and World Championships and give athletes from Northern Ireland the choice to compete for team Great Britain (GB) or the island of Ireland; team Ireland.

By granting a derogation to Ireland World Athletics will not have to change or amend its rules. Its ‘Political Boundary Rule’ will still be in force but will not apply to Ireland.

10. World Athletics can solve this problem

With good will from all sides we believe that there is a solution to this matter. World Athletics has the opportunity to lead the way and adopt an approach that would support peace and reconciliation and contribute to the spirit of generosity that is emerging on our shared island.

We hope that you will consider our request and, as noted, we would be willing to discuss further. We look forward to hearing from you.

Larry Larkin

On behalf of The Friends of Irish Athletics