A spirited discussion on ways to raise awareness for “I Run Clean,” a unique anti-doping e-learning platform for athletes, got the 2018 European Athletics Communication Managers Seminar off to a lively start today in Berlin, Germany.
Launched in July 2017, I Run Clean is a crucial new tool in the fight against doping in sport and an expression of the European Athletics’ commitment to clean sport.
For the first time at any major elite-level sport competition, mandatory certification in the I Run Clean programme will be required of all athletes aiming to compete in European Athletics events from 2020 onward. The mandatory certification will begin to be rolled out this year with all athletes participating at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Györ, Hungary from 5-8 July.
The goal of the interactive modules is to explain to athletes why anti-doping measures are necessary and to inform them about everything from therapeutic use exemptions to the whereabouts system. Unlike other digital anti-doping programmes, I Run Clean was designed to be more than simply a quiz to test the knowledge and retention of athletes. Instead, I Run Clean was created to be as interactive as possible and be based on the individual values and preferences of each athlete.
“The programme is designed for younger demographics, and we expect that some 95 percent of all users will complete the programme via mobile app,” said Bill Glad, European Athletics Head of the President’s Cabinet. “The programme was designed to be easy to use and understand, and allows athletes to create their own ‘virtual selves’ as they navigate through the different real-world scenarios.”
I Run Clean is being targeted at elite athletes first, but there are plans to expand the programme in the future to include athletes at the grassroots level, coaches, parents and other members of the athlete’s entourage.
To learn more about I Run Clean, please visit: www.irunclean.com
The I Run Clean workshop was followed by discussions on the communication and commercial strategies for running by representatives from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), European Athletics and DLM (Deutsche Leichtathletik Marketing).
The 2018 European Athletics Communication Managers Seminar will run from 14-16 March. Day 2 will focus primarily on the 2018 European Championships and the international communication strategy for the event.
It followed the twice-yearly Strategic Communications Meeting chaired by First Vice President Dobromir Karamarinov that was also held in Berlin Tuesday and Wednesday.
The European Championships is a major new multisport event taking place every four years, supported by Europe’s free-to-air broadcasters, which aggregates the existing senior continental championships of Athletics (European Athletics), Aquatics (LEN), Cycling (UEC), Gymnastics (UEG), Rowing (FISA), Triathlon (ETU), with a new Golf Team Championships (ET & LET) – all unified under a common brand.
The world-class sporting and cultural cities of Berlin and Glasgow will host the first edition of the Championships 2-12 August 2018.