UK Athletics' inaugural Super8 competition in Cardiff last night was marred by a sponsorship row and the absence of several high-profile athletes.
24 hours before the event sports manufacturer Nike withdrew three leading athletes in a row over logos and kit. Nike wanted Kelly Sotherton, Hannah England and Greg Rutherford to wear its own branded kit, but the Super 8 vest carries just the event logo and team name.
“There are more than 140 athletes competing here at the inaugural Super8 event in Cardiff and personal sponsorship obligations have led to just three athletes having to withdraw from the competition,” said a UK Athletics statement.
“However, we believe we can find a workable solution with all interested parties for the future of Super8. In the meantime we've got an exciting evening of athletics to look forward to in a format that we believe is good for the athletes and spectators and the sport.”
Many British athletes are currently holding off signing contracts with the British Olympic Association for the 2012 London Olympics because they feel compromise individual sponsorship deals.
The ‘city versus city’ Super8 concept was dreamed up by UK Athletics chief executive Niels de Vos and is marketed as the athletics version of cricket’s Twenty20.
