Athletics in the UK: The Rise and Fall of the BAF

62 THE JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE (JSC) The JSC was set up by the AAA and BAAB to manage the income and expenditure and other obligations arising from the TV and marketing contracts that had come on stream in April 1985. The six voting members of the JSC were the President, Honorary Treasurer and General Secretary of the AAA, together with the Chairman and Honorary Treasurer of the BAAB and the chairman of its finance committee, solicitor Robert Stinson who was also the Honorary Treasurer of the IAAF. It was agreed that the chair of the JSC would alternate annually between the chairman of the AAA and the chairman of the BAAB and that all decisions had to be unanimous otherwise they would be referred back to the AAA General Committee and the BAAB Council for a decision. This unusual arrangement worked remarkably well in practice. It served to concentrate minds and I do not recall a single occasion when unanimity was not achieved. To take full advantage of ITV’s offer, the formal contract had included several events that were not actually organised by the AAA or the BAAB. The Southern Counties had agreed that its annual grand prix at Crystal Palace should be included, as had the Women’s AAA for its championships. The British League’s clubs’ cup final, the Scottish and Welsh championships, Northern Ireland’s Belfast Games and various others were also included. In parallel with the ITV contract the marketing rights to the events had been awarded Alan Pascoe’s company, Alan Pascoe Associates Limited (APA). To grant these rights to the untried Alan Pascoe (pictured with Sebastian Coe) was a massive act of faith on the parts of Arthur McAllister and Bill Evans, who were charged with the negotiations, but an act of faith that was handsomely rewarded as Pascoe’s company actually raised more than £8m, more than double the guarantee, and went on to successfully represent British Athletics for many years; indeed, at the time of writing, still is.