Ethical Charter

ETHICAL CHARTER | USHUAIA by UTMB^®

Introduction
Equity, respect for other people and the environment, mutual aid and solidarity, are the fundamental principles directing the organisation and the running of Ushuaia by UTMB®. These are inspired directly from the values put forward by the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) amongst which we find authenticity, respect, humility and fair play.

We wish to share these principles with everyone who participates in the event: runners, partners, volunteers, spectators and local inhabitants. 

Because we are conscious that our events take place in a framework which is at the same time grandiose and fragile, the aim of this charter is to clearly formulate the benchmarks which will act as the guide line for our behaviour and actions.

Our sport, trail running, is experiencing nowadays important changes, the most perceptible of which are: a rising number of participants coming from an increasing number of different countries, a large diversity of motivations and profiles, more and more sensitive economic stakes and the not insignificant emergence of impact upon the environment. In this context of change, we consider that it is our responsibility to continue promoting the sport, associating it with values that go beyond the sporting aspect itself and that make trail running a real human adventure.

Equity
It is the search for a fair balance, based on impartiality, equality of chances for all runners and the recognition of the rights and duties that each player has in the event (runners, volunteers, private and territorial partners, the press and local population). Our races are organised in order to be of advantage to all, without anyone benefiting in a way that may put others at a disadvantage. 

Our races are open to everybody. Our rules are made for everybody and are applied identically to everybody. All the athletes have the same conditions, and they have the same rights and duties.

It is our responsibility to guarantee this principle of equity, to carry out for this matter the necessary controls and to offer the best possible race conditions to all participants.

We limit the zones where assistance is authorised so as not to penalise those runners who cannot benefit from it. 

We ask race marshals to ensure that the rules are respected throughout the race.

The reception of top-level runners is subject to pre-established rules that do not put in a disadvantage other runners. We make an effort to ensure that all players are recognized according to their respective contributions to the event and we ensure that all the finishers are rewarded.

Respect for people
A “by UTMB®” event gathers enthusiasts from a large diversity of cultures, personalities or motivations.

To respect others is to understand and to accept that they will be different, and to adopt the “know how” so as not to bother them. It means, also, understanding that the mountain possesses its own culture and traditions.  

We permanently work for a high-quality organisation, we stay tuned to all and we try hard to always find answers.

We limit the numbers so as not to saturate the paths and also to avoid hold-ups along the route which could be harmful to the quality of the races.

We scrupulously control that the conditions and rules of the race are respected, so that nobody can participate illegitimately to the detriment of another runner who respects the rules.

Each player makes a commitment to show respect and conviviality, towards the local population and towards others occupying the mountains at the same time (other trail-runners, locals, mountain personnel, walkers…). 

Respect depends on sharing the regulations that every player (runner, volunteer, partner, journalist, accompanying person) commits to understand and to respect. We ask everyone not to cheat, under any circumstance, and to be an example of fair-play.

Respect for oneself
The practice of long distance trail-running carries risks, and the search for performance and/or pleasure on no account justifies the distortion of one’s health in the more or less short term, or taking any risks. 

We will optimise the medical follow-up of the runners, in order to be able to implement actions of prevention and/or information in the specific field of ultra-endurance. 

We ask each runner:

• to be particularly careful not to take doping products and not to resort, wrongly, to self-medication,
• to inform the organisation’s Medical Counsel in case of use of a prescription subjected to a Therapeutic Use Authorisation (TUE),
• to learn and to agree not to exceed one’s limits to the point of damaging one’s physical or mental integrity

Respect for the environment

Our races take place in the mountains. This is a fragile natural environment, and it is necessary to protect its balance derived both from biodiversity and human activity. 

Our event has to contribute to the general awareness of the fragility of the natural surroundings. We make every effort we can to reduce our impact. We also recognise, with lucidity, that there are inevitable impacts and we make a commitment to do all we can to rectify them. We all should be ambassadors for the promotion and preservation of natural areas.

Our environmental commission identifies the risks generated by the event and proposes concrete actions.

We try to minimise, to the maximum, the environmental impact connected to the functioning of our organisation, in particular by decreasing the volume of our printing. 

We would like to invite you to improve your knowledge of the mountains, their ecosystem and fragilities, not in order to become an expert but so as to act with responsibility and awareness.

We encourage you to minimise your impact on the environment you move across, by adopting your best environmentally-friendly attitude:

• do not drop anything on the ground (including things that can´t be seen) in any area along the route (including the inhabited zones),
• do not shortcut the paths, as this causes harmful erosion to the site,
• preserve the flora, respect the fauna, and avoid making inappropriate noises
• rigorously respect the rules of the natural areas,
• limit carbon emissions by avoiding motorised travel and favouring the use of communal transport, or as a last resort using the alternative of car-sharing.

Solidarity
Mountains are a hostile environment where men have learnt the rules of solidarity, since helping each other is necessary to live and prosper. For this reason, we ask each player of Ushuaia by UTMB®, in whatever place or circumstance they are in, to make it their priority to help any other person in danger or difficulty.

As organisers, we have the conviction that our solidarity also has to applied in a more global framework, and that it is our responsibility to help the most deprived. This conviction is based on the consciousness of our own privileges and our attachment to humanistic values.