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Ben Connor Declines European Championships Spot Over Pay-to-Compete Fees

Posted : 01 April 2025

Ben Connor, a distance runner who represented Great Britain at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has announced that he will not compete for his country at the European Road Running Championships in April.

 

The 32-year-old was selected to run the half marathon in Leuven, Belgium, but he decided to decline the opportunity after being asked to cover expenses up to £1,100 for things like travel, accommodation, and kit. UK Athletics' selection policy includes these fees, which Connor felt were unfair, particularly for athletes from lower-income backgrounds.

 

Although England Athletics offered to subsidize the costs, Connor expressed his belief that representing Great Britain should not come down to an athlete’s ability to pay. In a social media post, he emphasized that the privilege of representing one's country should be based on athletic achievement, not financial resources.

 

As someone from a working-class background, he also voiced concerns that junior athletes might miss out on opportunities due to the financial burden these fees could impose.

 

UK Athletics responded by clarifying that the maximum fee would likely be under £500, with some costs potentially as low as £200-250, depending on the athlete’s home country. They justified the charges by explaining that as the competition calendar expands, funding for all teams becomes increasingly difficult to manage.

 

UK Athletics argued that providing athletes with the opportunity to compete was preferable to not sending teams at all due to financial constraints.

 

The situation has sparked concern within the athletics community. Hannah England, a World 1500m silver medallist, expressed her worry about athletes being priced out of competition. She pointed out the irony of UK Athletics receiving £20 million in funding from UK Sport while asking athletes to contribute financially.

 

The dilemma reflects the challenges of balancing the need for funding with the principle of fair access to competition. UK Athletics has indicated that they are committed to finding solutions for athletes facing financial hardship, but the issue remains a significant concern for many.

 

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