The World Cross Country Championship that was set to be held next year in Bathurst, Australia has been moved to 2023 due to Covid-19 travel restrictions in the country.
According to a body governed by World Athletics in a statement on Wednesday Australia’s quarantine requirements were not practical for one day.
The country has due to covid-19 restricted movements in and out of the country and 14 days quarantine to all visitors upon arrival in the country.
“The postponement is due to the biosecurity measures and travel restrictions currently in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Australia,” said World Athletics in a statement.
“Australian borders are closed to international visitors.
“The 14-day quarantine requirements for international visitors to Australia are not practical for a one-day event.
The championship will take place on 18 February 2023 in Bathurst and more than 550 athletes from over 60 countries across the world are expected to compete.
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Jill Davies, Local Organizing Committee chair and Athletics Australia Board Member said the Athletics Australia and LOC were delighted that World Athletics and its partners agreed to move the championship which will allow them to plan and deliver a world-class celebration of the cross country come 2023.
“Athletics Australia and the LOC are delighted that World Athletics and its partners have agreed to the postponement, which allows us to plan and deliver a world-class celebration of cross country running in February 2023. This is one of the most exciting athletics events in the world and the iconic course at Mount Panorama will see some incredible racing,” said LOC Co-Chair and Athletics Australia Board Member Jill Davies.
“We would like to thank World Athletics and the New South Wales Government for their continued confidence in our ability to deliver a world-class event in February 2023. We will continue to work hard over the next year to be ready to welcome the world’s best cross-country athletes and athletics fans to Bathurst for a global celebration of cross country running.”
Ian North mayor of Bathurst Regional Council in a statement that they are looking forward to hosting the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in 2023.
“We’re looking forward to hosting the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in 2023,” said Mayor Ian North of Bathurst Regional Council.
“Mount Panorama is a world-famous international racing track venue, attracting competitors from across the globe and is the perfect backdrop for the most important cross-country event in the world.”
World Athletics Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running Formerly held annually and organized by World Athletics formerly the IAAF inaugurated in 1973 when it replaced the international cross country championship. It was an annual competition until 2011 when World Athletics changed it to a biennial event.
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Many consider the World Cross Country Championships to be the most difficult races to win, even more, difficult than the Olympic Games. At most major championships, the world’s best distance runners are separated into a few races, i.e. 3000 m Steeplechase, 5000 m, and 10,000 m. However, in the absence of the short course races, the World Cross Country Championships pit all runners against one another in only one race. Thus, the competition is quite fierce. It’s no wonder, then, that several Olympic Champions have gotten their start as World Cross Country Champions: Carlos Lopes, marathon, 1984; John Ngugi, 5000 m, 1988; Khalid Skah, 10,000 m, 1992; and Kenenisa Bekele, 10,000 m, 2004 and 2008. Numerous other champions have medals at the Olympic Games or the World Championships or have set World Records.
In the 206th IAAF Council Meeting, held after the 2016 summer Olympics, the council decided to add a mixed-gender relay race to the World Cross Country Championships schedule a first for the event.
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