AAI refuses to yield on right to choose gear

The Athletic Association of Ireland (AAI) yesterday reiterated claims that they have the right to wear their choice of gear in the athletics competition at the Sydney Olympics next September.

The AAI president, Nick Davis, again dismissed the counter-claims that the International Olympic Committee have the ultimate right as to what athletic uniforms are worn at the Games - the cause of the ongoing conflict with the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI).

But Davis also refused to speculate on a possible solution - including suggestions made on Monday that the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr Jim McDaid, is likely to make a compensatory offer to the AAI to the tune of £100,000.

"We'll be meeting with the Minister on April 11th and there won't be any negotiations carried out before that," said Davis. "And it's not just a simple question of the matter being solved by the sum of money suggested."

The Minister also stated yesterday that no financial inducements have been offered by him as a means of solving the problem but that he was "anxious to ensure that the issue should be resolved speedily and should not be allowed to distract Irish athletes in their preparation for their competitions".

Davis has disclosed that the AAI deal with Asics is worth $800,000 (approximately £650,400) to the federation over four years (or around £162,600 a year) and that it would make no sense to settle for any sum less than that.

And according to Davis, the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) is sticking to their rule on the matter. "I spoke to the president of the IAAF myself 10 days ago and he didn't give any impression that the situation had changed," he said.

The IAAF rule 12.1(a) states: "At the following International Meetings, the rules and regulations of the IAAF must apply: Olympic Games, World Championships and World Cups." Further, in the IAAF rulebook, Rule 143.1 states: "At all meetings under Rule 12.1 (a) to (e), competitors shall participate in the uniform clothing approved by their National Governing Body."

However, Pat Hickey, president of the OCI, remains equally certain that the Olympic Charter determines their ultimate control. The interpretation of this grey area of ruling between the two international federations - the IOC and the IAAF - has been the crunch of the domestic gear conflict since it first emerged at the Atlanta Games four years ago, and each side continues to claim that their rule overpowers the other.

On Monday, the OCI revealed a recent letter from Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the IOC, to the IAAF president, Lamine Diack, which stated that the "decision regarding the make of this uniform will be left to the National Olympic Councils, in keeping with the Olympic Charter."

Further information emerged yesterday as to how other countries deal with the conflict. The Olympic Councils of Italy, Germany and the United States do allow athletes to wear the brand of gear chosen by their athletic federations, but only because those Olympic Councils are in the strong financial position to do so. Such a compromise is also reported to require written permission from the Olympic body.

Hickey also put forward another example. "Take the British case, closest to home," he said. "Their team are committed to wearing the Olympic federation gear and not that of the athletics body. That wasn't a compromise, that was a ruling."