A system (10) is disclosed for authenticating an item (12), the item (12) being associated with an event or associated with one or more participants (70) in the event. The system (10) comprises first identification means (14) incorporated into an item (12) prior to an event, the first identification means (14) having an associated unique identifier, a database (22) for storing an item record including information indicative of the unique identifier and information indicative of the item (12), and detecting means (20) for authenticating that the item (12) has been used at the event by detecting the first identification means (14) and recognising the unique identifier during the event whilst the item (12) is being used. The arrangement is such that the item record is updated so as to include information indicative of the event in which the item (12) has been used when the item (12) has been detected by the detecting means (20). A corresponding method is also disclosed.