Marsh, the world’s leading insurance broker and risk adviser, has been appointed by UKA, the National Governing Body for athletics in the UK, to manage the organisation’s insurance and risk programmes, effective from 1 April 2009. Marsh will undertake an extensive review of the organisation’s key risks and develop suitable insurance arrangements for UKA and its members.

Commenting on the appointment, Adrian Willmott, Regional Client Development Director, Marsh said: “Marsh is particularly active in providing risk and insurance solutions to sports associations and governing bodies around the world, and our appointment by UKA strengthens our position as UK market leader.

"We are delighted to be supporting a leading Olympic and Paralympic sport and a sports organisation of international renown. The nature of risk in sports has changed dramatically in the past 10 years and we look forward to working closely with UKA and its membership to develop a risk management and insurance strategy that meets their needs.”

Charles Bartholomew, UKA Finance and Operations Director, added: "We selected Marsh due to its extensive experience in dealing with sport governing bodies, both in the UK and internationally. Marsh successfully demonstrated an in-depth understanding of our key risks and will build on our existing insurance programme to provide wider coverage that is aligned to our significant exposures. We are also confident that Marsh will help us build a better understanding our risks in the sport, provide access to specialist sports risk consulting advice and best practice from other sports.”