Identificación de criterios de transparencia en las carreras atléticas solidarias

One of the consequences of the current athletics boom, known as the second running wave (Scheerder, Breedveld and Borgers, 2015; Van Bottenburg, Scheerder and Hover, 2010), is the increase in the number of charity races, which are very successful funding mechanisms for social and charitable organisations (Filo, Funk and O'Brien, 2009; Higgins and Lauzon, 2002). Nevertheless, this increase has not seen a parallel development in good practices regarding the collection, communication and management of the funds raised through these charitable events (Pucurull, 2015). The aim of this paper is to analyse the preliminary results of the first phase of this research project, which is intended to identify the diverse transparency criteria applied in the existing charity races in Catalonia, Spain, and how these criteria are publicly managed. In the second phase of our research, we will identify some optimal transparency criteria for charity races. The methodology used is based on collaborative social research, and involved establishing an IAP group consisting of representatives from different stakeholders. At this first stage of the research project, information and documents have been collected and a model has been developed for the analysis of the websites for those charity races and marches. Preliminary results show a significant disparity of criteria applied, with a prevailing lack of transparency in how the funds raised were reported, and also about the charity and social causes to which the funds were allocated.