Athletics Australia have relaxed their advertising rules to allow for increased sponsorship for athletes ©Athletics Australia

Australian athletes will now be able to display an increased amount of personal sponsors on their uniforms for domestic competitions after the country's governing body relaxed its advertising regulations.

Competitors are now allowed to have personal sponsors on the front and back of their singlets, and athletes can now have advertising on their shorts, which had not previously been permitted.

The move towards a less rigid advertising policy allows for athletes to increase their chances of securing personal sponsorship as they will be able to sell more space on their attires, Athletics Australia have claimed.

The alterations will effect events held in the country but does not apply to International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) sanctioned meets, such as the IAAF Melbourne World Challenge, as athletics’ world governing body has more stringent rules on advertising.

 “We have worked with Member Associations and the Oceania Athletics Association to create rules that are specific to events hosted in Australia,” Athletics Australia Competitions Manager Andrew Matthews said.

“Without doubt the opportunities available to athletes have expanded with this change.

“This is a great development for athletes and their personal sponsors.”

The alterations on advertising will effect events held in Australia but does not apply to International Association of Athletics Federations sanctioned meets
The alterations on advertising will effect events held in Australia but does not apply to International Association of Athletics Federations sanctioned meets ©Athletics Australia

The changes is due to come into effect for the Australian All Schools Championships and the Zatopek:10, with both competitions scheduled to take place from December 4 until 6. 

The announcement comes after Athletics Australia revealed their event schedule for the Australian Athletics Tour in the year leading up to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

It is due to begin with the Hunter Track Classic on January 31, with the eight-event series due to conclude with the Queensland Track Classic on March 19 before the season-ending Australian Athletics Championships takes place from March 31 to April 3 at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre.

“The Australian Athletics Tour is an exciting part of the Australian athletics season,” Matthews added.

“The Event Grid provides an excellent range of competition opportunities for athletes as they build towards the pinnacle event of the season, the 2016 Australian Athletics Championships.”