Aus to host 2021 IAAF World Cross Country C’ship

Monte Carlo: Australia will host the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Athletics Series event for the first time in 25 years, following the decision to award the 2021 World Cross Country Championships to Bathurst in New South Wales.
The event will be held at one of Australia’s most famous sporting venues, Mount Panorama, which is better known as the home of Australia’s premier endurance motor race. It will now welcome the world’s best endurance runners on March 20.
The varied landscape and altitude around the iconic race track offer a range of enticing and challenging options for cross country running. The event will also benefit from the established major event facilities on site, including grandstands, administration offices, team areas, and a full media center, which will significantly reduce the costs and complexity of organizing the biennial championships.
Athletics Australia president Mark Arbib said the event would embrace both elite and recreational runners in a celebration of the art of the cross country.
“As recreational running continues to grow in Australia, the World Cross Country represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our elite runners to race on home soil, but also for our community runners to celebrate the sport and be involved in running events planned to take place during the championships,” Arbib said.
“Having this event in Australia and on the iconic Bathurst site will allow everyday Australians to test themselves on the same challenging course that the world best will run. We are over the moon to bring the World Championships to Australia and Bathurst.”