A statement released by the Coque on 25 August has announced its support for a marathon in this city, but also highlighted its unwillingness to work with the current organiser of the ING Europe –Marathon, step by step. From an uneasy partnership, through simmering resentment, the difficulties between step by step and the host of the finishing section of the marathon appear to have reached a flashpoint, leaving step by step managing director Erich François somewhat bemused, yet also defiant.

A meeting next week, involving the minister for sports, will further clarify the Coque’s position on the matter. Until that time, however, the venue’s official line is that it will not work with step by step “as things are,” (and this decision is irrevocable) although if certain aspects of the organisation are changed, the Coque “is willing to review its position and re-establish its involvement with the race.” This is not the first time an argument between step by step and the Coque has gone public: last January, Minister for Sport Jeannot Krecké accused François of being a businessman “holding the athletes to ransom.”

Avoidable Impasse

So what does François make of all this? “I don’t even know what’s wrong with them. I’ve been waiting to do a debriefing, but they don’t return contact. But I see no reason why we shouldn’t work together anymore.” The fact that he has been kept in the dark about things has made François think that the Coque “want to do the marathon themselves. The problem is that they should do events but they never did one. Now they see this one works, maybe they just want to take it for themselves.” He points out the biggest sports venue in the country should be hosting events and yet there is never anything on there. Furthermore, “they say I want more and more every year. This isn’t true. Every year they get the same list. They don’t really have an argument. The runners have said it’s a perfect event. Other partners agree, from the electricity and water suppliers to the sponsors. The only one complaining is the Coque!”

François’ frustration at events is clear, and his argument that “the Coque was built with tax-payers’ money to support sports events. So why not support the biggest sports event in the country?” The question is left hanging, but the sentiment makes a certain amount of sense. And, as François has said before in interviews, the ING Europe – Marathon itself is the reason athletes are attracted to compete in their thousands. They are not coming to Luxembourg because of the Coque, even if it does provide excellent facilities to end the race. If the Coque is not going to participate from now on, “we are working on a Plan B,” says François, “either way, there will be a marathon in 2010. But I think the Coque is made for this event, but it is step by step’s job to organise it. We are not just going to give the marathon away...” Indeed, it is step by step who are backed by the sponsors, not the Coque. Their commitment to the event is an unwavering 100%, and they are buoyed by positive feedback. It is clear François wishes to maintain links with the venue and enter into a dialogue. Whether the problems between organiser and host needed to be made public yet again is neither here nor there at this stage. Collaboration is what made this event as popular as it is in the first place, for athletes, spectators and sponsors. Why tear up a winning formula?