Ironman Group in DEEP Trouble as Triathlon Ireland denies sanctioning Ironman Ireland Event where 2 died Triathlon Ireland has formally said, below, that it did not sanction a triathlon race in Co Cork, Ireland in which two male competitors died. This puts the Ironman organisation in a very tricky situation as suspicions must now rise that the race was continued for practical and commercial reasons rather than being stopped for reasons of safety. Investigations are obviously underway but here are some general ramifications of running an unsanctioned event Liability for Injuries: Organizers may face lawsuits for negligence. Without the backing of a governing body, organizers might be liable for damages. Lack of Insurance: Many sanctioned events come with specific insurance coverages that protect both the participants and organizers. If an unsanctioned event doesn't have appropriate insurance, the financial burden of any claims or liabilities could fall on the organizers. (Edit: see comments below, many competitors bought day race licences from Triathlon Ireland which include insurance, this insurance could have been invalidated) Endorsements and Sponsorships: Brands and companies that sponsor or endorse unsanctioned events also face reputational risks and negative associations. Sanctions by Governing Bodies: The governing body might be able to impose penalties or sanctions on participants as well as the organizers. Reputational Damage: Organizers of unsanctioned events might face reputational harm. They might be viewed as irresponsible or unprofessional by sponsors, potential participants, and the broader community. In my personal opinion, it is an unusual and severe situation when a National Governing Body withdraws a race sanction on safety grounds and when that race then goes ahead. Personally, I've never heard of that happening at a National-scale event, although my knowledge is limited. [caption id="attachment_83522" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image|Cathal Shaw via RTE[/caption] We might consider the broader implications of proceeding with a race where sanctioning has been removed on safety grounds Reason for Withdrawal: The reason for the last-minute withdrawal of sanctioning is a critical factor in determining the severity and scope of implications. Lack of safety is a serious reason, perhaps the most serious. Legal & Financial Implications: The ultimate organizers, Ironman Group, might face increased liability if its insurance is invalidated. Public Perception: The public's perception of the Ironman Ireland event will be tarnished and many will argue that the reputation of the Ironman organization is now tarnished. I would be surprised to see the race run in 2024. Communication: It seems that participants were not made aware of the removal of Triathlon Ireland's sanctioning of the race. I'm no lawyer but I would suspect that this opens avenues of litigation from other race participants including those who could not finish the race because of the conditions and those who might claim to be traumatised by the experience. Future Relations with the Governing Body: Clearly the relationship between Ironman Group and Triathlon Ireland will be strained. Worse than that, every other national governing body would be foolish not to seek further clarifications and assurances from Ironman about all its future events globally. I'm not a race organizer, race official or lawyer. However, it seems to be that Ironman is in deep trouble on multiple fronts and it's not inconceivable that this could finish the organization. Especially when the company's official Facebook page posted this image of race day conditions. An image that is significantly at odds with the image above was taken when competitors braved waves seemingly higher than themselves at the start. I remain saddened by the events and again extend my condolences to the families of Ivan Chittenden and Brendan Wall. Further news has emerged about one of the athletes. 65-year-old Ivan Chittenden's Linked profile shows that he is a more than competent triathlete and a swimmer of over a decade. His race record indicates he must have significant open-water swim experience In my early 50's I became an endurance athlete and learned how to swim. Amongst my accomplishments with this passion, I have completed 5 ironman distance races, 8 half ironman distance races and have ran all 6 of the World Marathon Majors https://the5krunner.com/2023/08/20/2-triathletes-die-ironman-ireland-70-3/ Statement from Darren Coombes, CEO of Triathlon Ireland Triathlon Ireland is reeling from the news that Ivan Chittenden and Brendan Wall, athletes in the Ironman Cork event in Youghal, tragically died yesterday morning while participating in the race. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ivan’s and Brendan’s loved ones. The triathlon community is a very close community and this loss has had a devastating effect on all of us. Triathlon Ireland is the National Governing Body for triathlon in Ireland, a role which includes providing sanction for club and commercial races to proceed. In our almost 40 year history, the sport in Ireland has an impeccable safety record. For the Ironman Cork event, in line with normal practice, Triathlon Ireland Technical Officials attended before the start of the race to review the conditions and carry out a water safety assessment. Due to adverse conditions on the day, Triathlon Ireland Technical Officials confirmed to the race organisers that it was not possible to sanction the race. As there is an investigation ongoing, at this stage it would not be appropriate for us to make any further comment only to state that Triathlon Ireland will provide any assistance that the authorities require. Finally, we reiterate our deepest condolences to the families of Ivan Chittenden and Brendan Wall. https://the5krunner.com/2023/08/23/ironman-diss-triathlon-ireland-cork-council-diss-ironman/
