New event managers

ATHLETICS: The Athletics Association of Ireland (AAI) has announced a whole new management structure for international competitions.

Five positions will be filled before the end of the month, headed by the senior track and field manager, whose three-year term will oversee this year's European Championships in Gothenburg, next year's World Championships in Osaka, and, crucially, the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

There will also be a cross country and roads manager (covering all such events to the end of 2008), a development manager (covering this year's European under-23 championships and next year's World Student Games), and also junior and youth managers, both of which will be two-year appointments.

"This is a huge step forward for us in the way managers will operate at major championships," explained AAI chief executive Brendan Hackett.

"First of all, it allows for continuity between championships, which we haven't had before, and also allows for far better long-term preparation, especially when it comes to Beijing in 2008."

Hackett also hinted that as wide a range of candidates as possible would be considered.

The main job of senior track and field manager does require previous experience at Olympic Games, World Championships or European Championships level, but competitive experience would also count.

The positions, which will be voluntary, will go before an interview panel with independent representation, which, added Hackett, would ensure a fully transparent process.

Previously, AAI event managers were filled on a once-off basis, with the longer-term appointments thus designed to improve competition preparations and also the liasing between individual coaches. The closing date for candidate submissions is April 14th.

Meanwhile, Paula Radcliffe has withdrawn from the London Marathon on April 23rd because of the same foot injury that forced her out of last month's Commonwealth's Games. The 32-year-old was looking to win her fourth title in five years, having been previously successful in 2002, 2003 and last year.

Despite every effort to get the injury sorted, Radcliffe was unable to prepare the way she wanted, which essentially means several weeks of intensely high mileage.

She had been preparing for the race at altitude in Albuquerque, New Mexico but, having returned home at the end of last week, realised the problem wasn't going to go away in time.

"I am really disappointed to have to miss this year's event," she said.

It was to be Radcliffe's first major race since winning the World title in Helsinki last August, and her next main goal is likely to be the European Championships in Gothenburg in August, most likely over 10,000 metres.