Denmark to host IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2019

PRESS RELEASE

On Thursday morning, December 1 Denmark got an early Christmas present by winning the hosting of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2019. Aarhus will lay grass to the world championships in one of athletics most prestigious disciplines.

Aarhus will host the IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2019 – the response of athletics to the Paris-Roubaix. In 2019, the world's best cross-runners thus meet in the City of Smiles as Denmark once again will play host of an international sporting event.

Foot print from the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 2014

When IAAF World Cross Country Championships are staged in March 2019, it will be exactly five years since the World Half Marathon Championships created a legacy as a festive celebration of running in Denmark. For the first time a giant mass participation race with 30,000 runners was added to the world championships.

The Danish Athletics Federation and Sport Event Denmark will now repeat this success this time with Aarhus by combining the elite race with a school tournament at the same venue. In Denmark School Olympics has become a vital part of primary school’s sport and health.

"Like with the World Half Marathon Championships it is our intention to let the Danish runners at any level, take an active part in these World Championships. In 2019 it is this our ambition to invite citizens of all ages for several days of activities - including aprox. 8,000 children under the auspices of the School Olympics cross championships," explains Jakob Larsen, CEO, Danish Athletics Federation.

President of the Danish Athletics Federation, Karsten Munkvad, emphasizes that Denmark wants to break new ground.

"We are not finished with the potential for creating inspiring and engaging activities in our sport. IAAF World Cross Country Championships and additional activities for runners of all shapes and sizes – this is our vision".

The national sporting event organization, Sport Event Denmark, also underlines the many possibilities of the event:

"With this IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Denmark will build on the legacy of the World Half Marathon Championships in 2014 and will take another step in developing a professional set-up to the benefit of both the elite runners, the School Olympics and athletics and running in Denmark in general, "says Lars Lundov, CEO, Sport Event Denmark.

The awarding of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2019 took place at IAAF’s IAAF Council meeting in Monaco, where the Danish bid was presented by the Danish Athletics Federation and the City of Aarhus. Sport Event Denmark was part of the bid process and will naturally partner the planning and hosting of the event.

Kind regards

Eline Andersen

Senior Kommunikationskonsulent/ Senior Communication Manager

T:

+45 43 26 21 04

M:

+45 51 22 53 85

ea@sporteventdenmark.com

Sport Event Danmark

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