Dual Pricing for running events is sports racism

Sports racism is not profit friendly.

One of the most passionate issues among expatriate runners in South-East Asia is dual pricing for many of the major marathons within the region.

Most of the big city marathons within ASEAN like the Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bangkok, Phuket Laguna, and Pattaya marathons, all practice dual pricing to some degree. The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon charges an extra 25% premium for foreign runners, where the Mandiri Jakarta Marathon puts on around a 30% premium. However the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon charges three times the local rate to foreigners, as do the three major Thai marathons mentioned above.

This dual pricing breaks the spirit and letter of the IAAF code of ethics on equality of athletes. Section C2, Article 17., clearly states that “There shall be no discrimination in Athletics on the basis of race, sex, ethnic origin, colour, culture, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other irrelevant factor, except where permitted by law”.

However surprisingly we find the Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur Marathons, as the Bangkok, Phuket Laguna, and Pattaya Marathons are not affiliated with the IAAF. Only the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, just held last weekend, has an IAAF Gold road race label, which suggests that the event through utilizing dual pricing is breaking the IAAF code of ethics.

Strictly speaking the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur and Mandiri Jakarta Marathons don’t appear to be breaking any local laws, but the ethics of dual pricing, given the IAAF stance, is something sponsors like Standard Chartered, Nikon, New Balance, Seiko, Snickers, Adidas, Land Rover, 100Plus, and Honda, should be giving careful thought to, in keeping their brands untarnished with the breach of IAAF ethics.

Big Brands support dual pricing

The case in Thailand is less clear, where a dual pricing may in fact actually be in breach of Section 4 of the Consumer Protection Act 1979, which states that ‘prices must be fair and equal for all consumers”. Although this section of the Act is rarely enforced, that doesn’t mean that the practice of dual pricing by Thai race organizers is not illegal.

There are a number of event management companies and race organizers which utilize dual pricing in Thailand. In previous years, these organizers have normally allowed expatriate Thai residents participation at local rates, rather than the exorbitant foreign participant pricing.  However 2015 has seen a hardening of attitude by some organizers, trying to force expatriates to pay foreign rates.

The organizers have given various reasons for the practice of dual pricing. The writer in an exchange of emails with Mr Henrik Jannborg, Director of timing and business development of Go Adventure Asia, explained that race fees are set by the actual event organizers and not his event management company.

Well known Thai blogger Richard Barrow when complaining about dual pricing for the Phuket Laguna Triathlon a couple of years ago, was able to get a replay from the race director Roman Floesser on the matter. Floesser claimed that “Its not actually foreign athletes are paying more, its that locals are paying less or a discounted fee.”

Floesser went on further to explain that the “…entry fee is in line with other Challenge races in the world and so is the service and standard of race organization and hence the cost of putting on the event.”

However if one makes a comparison between the costs of putting on an event in say New York, London, or Sydney, provisions for security, crowd control, insurance, printing and souvenirs are substantially less in this region.

What is adding insult to anger among expatriate runners within this region, especially Thailand is the way that the policy is implemented. Firstly, it is inconsistent where some expatriates can register at local rates while others cannot. Secondly, is the inconsistency of applying the rules. Some organizers will accept a work permit as being proof of being a resident, while others will not. Thirdly, anger is aroused by the apparently underhanded way that the two prices are concealed by organizers, where local scripts are used to state pricing for Thai nationals.

This year’s hardening up on registration fee policies by race organizers has angered many expatriates. One can see this anger in popular running forums like Bangkok Runners to the point where many have publicly declared that they will boycott events that practice dual pricing in future.

Event management companies like Amazing Field, which was co-organizer of the Bangkok Marathon debacle, where a highway gate was opened in the wrong location, leading to an extra seven kilometres run in the half marathon, seems to indicate that these companies have little ‘love and care’ for the sport of running itself, and are purely after the profits.

Companies that practice dual pricing are finding that they have a public image issue to contend with, that could potentially rub off on major sponsors like Standard Chartered, if they are not careful.

If running in this region is going to attract the serious numbers of foreign tourists in the future, race directors need to look at IAAF accreditation, and eliminating dual pricing. They may be able to attract premium prices from foreign tourists through being innovative with race/accommodation/tour packages that could be offered. This will enhance the Asian region as a running destination if race organizers turn to innovation rather than short-sighted greed for a couple of extra dollars from expatriates.

As an editorial in The Nation stated, the practice of dual pricing will do more harm than good in attracting visitors to the region. It’s time for race organizers to think well and hard about the future of their events.

Sadly, racism is increasing in running within the region, which is against the spirit of sport, which should be the great equalizer of humanity. Events like the Marines Marathon held in Sattahip, near Pattaya in Thailand, will not award trophies to foreigners who achieve a place in the race. Earlier this year, the officials of the Yala Half Marathon refused to present a trophy to a foreigner who came 2nd due to the protest of a local competitor. The shopping Centre management company, Central Festival is practising dual pricing through having a special category for foreigners at a premium price, where 60 year old runners are expected to compete against elite Kenyan runners.

Unfortunately, ‘the level playing field’ of running has been sacrificed for short term gains for promoters. The sport of running is suffering because of this, and massive opportunities of developing the region for sports tourism are being ignored.

Sports racism is not profit friendly.

Originally published in the Asian Correspondent 6th December 2015

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