12 February 2016

UK Sport, City Hall and UK Athletics unite behind new governance model

A new independent board is to lead London’s delivery of the International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF) 2017 World Athletics Championships in the capital.

London 2017 Ltd has agreed a number of governance changes following a thorough review to ensure a clear separation of the day-to-day delivery led by UK Athletics to a more independent board with strategic direction and oversight of the championships.

In line with its agreements with the IAAF, a new co-Chair is to be appointed by the Greater London Authority (GLA) alongside Ed Warner to oversee the Championships.

London 2017 Ltd will no longer retain a CEO role on the Board, with Niels de Vos taking on the position of Championships Director for the event, accountable to the London 2017 Board for UK Athletics’ delivery. 

The structure was finalised in today’s London 2017 Ltd board meeting, where the Greater London Authority, UK Sport and UK Athletics were represented.

UK Athletics Chairman Ed Warner said: “We are pleased that our discussions outlining the requirements for event delivery have been completed. The next 18 months will be exciting times for UK Athletics in organising two World Championships on behalf of London 2017 under the leadership of our CEO Niels de Vos. The appointment of a co-Chair will assist greatly in ensuring that we can focus effectively on the task in hand.”

Jeff Jacobs, of the Greater London Authority and London 2017 Ltd board member, said: “The changes being made reflect our ongoing desire to ensure that the best possible governance structure is in place for the championships, with independence and accountability at its heart. Having agreed the new arrangements today, we shall all now be focusing on delivering a fantastic event in London in 2017.”

Simon Morton, Chief Operating Officer at UK Sport, said: “UK Sport has been working tirelessly with all partners to ensure we have the best possible governance structure for the 2017 World Athletics Championships.

“This new structure will ensure that we can more clearly separate the oversight function of London 2017 Ltd from the delivery function of UK Athletics. 

“Better balanced boards make better decisions, and I am confident all stakeholders can now move forward to deliver an outstanding London 2017 Word Athletics Championships to make the nation proud.”