BID GUIDEWORLD ATHLETICSCROSS COUNTRY
CHAMPIONSHIPS
2024 & 2026 EDITIONS
April 2021

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WE

ARE

WORLD

ATHLETICS
With more than 3.5 million athletes, 214 Member Federations,and as the #1 Olympic sport - we are the international
governing body for the sport of athletics representing all things
running, jumping, throwing and walking.

And, just like society, we are changing fast.
Our vision is to use the power and accessibility of athletics
and our athletes to create a healthier and fitter world. We exist
to grow the sport of athletics and make it relevant in people’s
lives and in the lives of their communities.

www.worldathletics.org

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The World Athletics Series
When it comes to competitions, we have our crown jewels: theWorld Athletics Series events. WAS for short.
The WAS events include seven of the highest-profile global
championships in the sport. Each WAS event is carefully
designed to bring unique experiences to life. The goal issimple: the world’s best athletes, in the world’s greatest
places, to inspire people on and off the track, field and road.
At World Athletics we are committed to creating globally
appealing, accessible events that deliver tangible, long-lasting
benefits to host regions – where needed most. Boosting thelocal economy, promoting active lifestyles, driving sport
tourism, inspiring the youth, putting existing infrastructure
to good use, celebrating local culture, fostering sport
entrepreneurship, getting cities on the map, creatinga legacy of sport volunteering, bringing society together:
we can help you achieve your identified goals.

The World Athletics Series is diverse and truly
global. There is something for everyone to enjoy
throughout the year.

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More Than A Race,
Cross Country Is A State-Of-Mind
It is estimated that 1.4 billion people run regularly worldwide. Running presents a very low
barrier to entry and the World Athletics Cross Country Championships can be a catalyst forhosts to motivate the local and national population to become healthier and fitter via massraces and outreach programmes, as well as encouraging active tourism both nationally andinternationally.
All of us that love running know that cross country is the race that might best sum up the humancondition. It is not about times, it is about the elements, the mixed terrain, the suffering and thepower of resilience.
More than a race, the World Athletics Cross Country Championships is a state-of-mind. A mindaltering positive state-of-mind at that. Running in nature (known as ‘Green Exercise’) also fills a
deficit that can exist in modern-day lifestyles, reconnecting race participants and spectatorswith their natural environments.

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Introducing the World Athletics
Cross Country Championships
From humble beginnings, the World Athletics Cross Country
Championships has become one of the most entertaining footracesin the world – at the same time, it inspires engagement, encourages
participation and promotes tourism.
The World Athletics Cross Country Championships includes five official World Championship races:• Men’s and Women’s 10 km
Billed as the world´s premier footrace for the world´s toughest runners. The best five runners
from each country in any distance ranging from 1,500 m to marathon are invited, making thisone of the most competitive footrace there is. This race is not just a display of speed andendurance, the course itself presents a technical and mental challenge to every competitor.
Therefore, this race will crown the world´s toughest runners.
• 4x2 km Mixed Relay
A fast-paced event with world class middle-distance runners going all-out in this epic teamdiscipline.
• U20 Men’s 8 km and U20 Women’s 6 km
In the 10 years since the 2011 edition, promising athletes that competed in the U20’s havesince won a total of 12 world titles. This is where the future stars of distance running emerge forthe first time on the global scene.
All five races will be held on a single day, and we are happy to work with you on expanding
the programme to cover more days by including other elements such as mass races for all,conference, expo, clinics, free parkrunTM and any other running-related activity that hosts feelwould contribute to the profile of the event and the community. We understand the importanceof creating a legacy for hosts after the event has left town, and we will work with you to deliver
exactly what you need.
We are pleased to confirm that the World Masters Championships will be included in thisprogramme. We are also in discussion with other official races to be included, based on localpreferences.
Bids are now open for the next two editions of the World Athletics Cross Country
Championships which will take place in 2024 and 2026 respectively. Read on to learn more.

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9Benefits to the Host City
Total Direct Economic Impact
Thousands of inbound competitors, officials, spectators and media personnel bring considerable
spending power to stimulate the host region’s hospitality sectors in particular.
See below a snapshot of the economic impact from the World Athletics Cross CountryChampionships held in Aarhus 2019:
Recreational Runner Spend$348,685

Spectator Spend$1,084,842

Event Attendee Spend$736,299

Event Organiser Spend$904,795

Total Direct Economic Impact$3,074,621

Tourism Impact
The World Athletics Cross Country Championships offers an excellent opportunity to engage thelocal community and showcase a destination’s unique landscape - whether it’s highlands, forests,
jungles, grasslands, beaches or even desert. Breath-taking races take place on courses as scenic
as they are brutal, with both natural and man-made features that will demonstrate a true test ofgrit and resilience.
Based on the tourism impact from the World Athletics Cross Country Championships 2019 in
Aarhus, a city with a population of 335,000:

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10Recreational Runners
OriginNumber

Percentage

Aarhus City

548

25.8%

Elsewhere in Denmark

1,369

64.3%

International211

9.9%• Total of 2,128 recreational runners of which 74.2% were from out-of-town and therefore
generated additional spend in the local economy• 32% of all out-of-town recreational runners stayed in commercial accommodation, for an
average of 1.7 days
• Accommodation spend generated from out-of-town recreational runners was $48,061• Non-accommodation spend generated from out-of-town recreational runners was $301,046• Average daily spend of out-of-town recreational runners was $167

Spectators
OriginNumber

Percentage

Aarhus City

5,188

52%

Elsewhere in Denmark

3,615

36%

International

1,197

12%

• Estimate of 10,000 spectators at the course of which 48% were out-of-town spectators andtherefore generating additional spend in the local economy• 80% of spectators would recommend Aarhus as a holiday destination• 32% of all out-of-town spectators stayed in commercial accommodation, for an average of 2.5
days• Accommodation spend generated from out-of-town spectators was $303,916• Non-accommodation spend generated from spectators was $782,313• Average daily spend of out-of-town spectators was $190

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13Social ImpactHealth & Well-Being
43% of spectators at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Aarhus 2019 said
that attending the event had inspired them to do more active recreation or sport than theywould normally. All World Athletics Series events have a track record of promoting health andfitness to communities. However, the World Athletics Cross Country Championships stands
out, because it promotes this concept of Green Exercise. There is now a comprehensive bodyof research to support the concept that running in natural environments has an even greater
impact on the body and mind. A number of studies have shown that Green Exercise can have
similar effects to mindfulness, helping those struggling with anxiety, grief or depression inparticular.

Generating Civic Pride
Based on the Impact Study from the World Athletics Cross Country Championships inAarhus 2019:• 72% of local residents agreed that hosting the World Championships had a positive impact
on the host city’s community• 94% of local residents felt proud that their city hosted the World Championships• 94% of local residents agreed that hosting the World Championships showcased the hostcity as a positive and vibrant city

Diversity & InclusionAthletics is colour-blind and gender-balanced, offering equal opportunities to athletes fromall walks of life and all races and creeds. We have complete gender equality on the field of play(including equal prize money for men and women) and we are working swiftly towards genderequality in our governance structures. World Athletics is constitutionally bound to reachgender equality on our Council, Executive Board and Commissions by 2027 (we are at about
40% now). World Athletics has pursued a policy of transgender inclusivity whilst maintaining alevel playing field for all female athletes. Finally, our fans at the World Athletics Cross Country
Championships in Aarhus 2019 were split very nearly on an equal basis too, comprising 51%
men and 49% women.

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Environmental Impact
Environmental Quality of the Event
In recognition of the environmental challenges faced by cities today, specifically air pollution,
climate change and over consumption of resources, and of the growing scrutiny under which
the event industry is placed, World Athletics will work with hosts to implement a sustainability
management system in line with its ambitious 10-year sustainability strategy. This will help
demonstrate to citizens and other stakeholders a real, walk-the-talk commitment to minimising
the event’s environmental impact. World Athletics is also committed to working with cities topromote environmental initiatives within the wider community.

Air Quality Project – Case Study World Athletics Half Marathon,
Gdynia 2020
As part of World Athletics’ continuing programme to measure air quality at sporting venues
around the world, and with the support of the local organising committee, World Athletics’
Health and Science department measured clinical and environmental data at the World AthleticsHalf Marathon Championships in Gdynia 2020 and the World Relays in Yokohama in 2019.
The latest study revealed that Gdynia had the best air quality of any major athletics event orroad race measured since World Athletics’ Air Quality Project started in 2018.
By publishing air quality from cities such as Gdynia, World Athletics hopes to encourage
athletes, recreational runners, cities, local and national governments and member federations tobecome more conscious of air quality and the impact that it has on health and performance.

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15Image & Event Reputation
Event Coverage• Broadcast in every country of the world (TV and digital via World Athletics Livestream indark territories)• 5.7 million viewers watched some form (based on the average of the four most recenteditions)• 134 Media Accreditations (based on the Impact Study from Aarhus 2019)

A Potential for Legacy
The World Athletics Cross Country Championships promotes the joy of running to inspireyoung people and bring communities closer together.
Schools - At Aarhus 2019, Cross Country legends Lynn Jennings, John Treacy and Paul
Tergat visited schools to share the positive effect of cross country running, some 200 children
participated in cross country workshops and over 700 school children took part in the finals of
the National Cross Country Youth Championships.
Volunteers - Aarhus 2019 also allowed running enthusiasts and local residents to play a partin the event with a total of 332 individuals volunteering on the day. This provided skills andleadership opportunities for those with volunteering experience and a socially engaging
experience for all involved.
Course - The World Championships course can also be a legacy in itself and hosts areencouraged to look into retaining or relocating the course with a marked route similar to hiking/mountain bike trails to leave a valuable resource for future weekend warriors and adventure
seekers.

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Additional Opportunities

The World Athletics Cross Country Championships can also provide an opportunity for a rangeof side events including:

Mass Races
Whilst the World Championships races might be reserved for elite athletes, that does not deny
any brave soul from a similar experience by running the World Championship course. Massparticipation races can include individual, team and relay races whereby recreational runners willrace in the footsteps of the world’s best runners and surrounded by cheering spectators andloved ones.

Global Running Conference
Hosts may have the right to organise and self-fund the official World Athletics Global Running
Conference.
The Global Running Conference is the premier gathering of the running industry from all cornersof the world. Event owners and race directors, health promotion agencies and tourism boards,
sport apparel brands and tour operators, endurance media and running tech start-ups, sporting
rule makers and anti-doping institutions, pro athletes and talent representation agencies, data
scientists, coaches and medical experts – the Global Running Conference is two jam-packed
days when the future of running is charted – as a sport, as an economic activity, as a tool of
public policy – defining its place in the society and creating growth opportunities at all levels.
The Global Running Conference is a combination of presentations, fireside chats, panel
discussions, workshops and product launches - all with one overarching goal to gain a deeper
understanding on the role of running in shaping healthy, resilient and energised communities.

Health & Fitness Expo
Hosts will have the right to organise an official event Expo under terms and conditions to be set
by World Athletics and Dentsu1 which will include conditions relating to the commercial aspects.

Travel Packages
Visitor travel packages and adventure activities can be created for participants and spectators
a-like to enhance their experience in the great outdoors and encourage visitors to extend theirtime in the region.
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World Athletics has appointed Dentsu as its exclusive global marketing partner and granted Dentsu certain commercial rights

relating to the World Athletics Cross Country Championships.

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Outreach
Custom-made training programmes can be rolled out locally and nationally through local runningclubs and communities. World Athletics will contribute through its network and expertise, forexample facilitating access to past and present athletes, and designing programmes tailored tothe needs of the host and its community.

School Engagement
School-based training and competitions will provide a healthy and engaging activity for school
children to connect with the event. National youth and school races can be held alongside themain event and mixed relays are also a novel way to implement team spirit in school sports.

Clinics
Many running-themed activities can be organised that will appeal to the natural audience forour events, including running clinics, injury-prevention seminars, courses for coaches, course
measurement sessions.

parkrunTM
World Athletics’ collaboration with parkrunTM can bring a special parkrunTM series to the hostregion in the week leading up to the event.

Event-associated eLearning Initiatives
Host staff and volunteers will have the opportunity to access the World Athletics’ eLearning
platform which offers sport and event-related educational tools (with modules including
marketing, event presentation, communication, project management and fan engagement) thataim to upskill local human capital in the host region.

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19Revenue Potential

Hosts can monetise the World Athletics Cross Country Championships through a number ofrevenue streams:(a) The World Championships••••••

National sponsorship*
Merchandising*Concession revenues* (food and beverage etc.)
Commercial hospitality sales*
Local hotel commissions
Admission tickets(b) Additional Events•••••

Mass participation registration fees
Global Running Conference admission fees**
Health & Fitness Expo floorspace sales*
Fees from clinics and training sessions
Local hotel commissionsⒸ Getty Images*Subject to the Category Release Agreement being concluded with Dentsu** Subject to a specific agreement with World Athletics

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Event Budget

The indicative Event Budget for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships is between
USD $1,750,000 – $2,250,000, but it will vary according to local costs and conditions.
World Athletics will schedule virtual meetings with the bidding committees to go through theproposed Event Budget.
11. Other 1%
10. Technology 1%
9. Media 0.1%
8. Host Broadcaster 6%

1. Event Planning 28%

7. Promotional Strategy 11%

6. Hospitality 2%
5. Medical & Anti-Doping 2%
4. Additional Events 0.9%

3. Event management
and Presentation 15%

2. Logistics 34%

4. Additional Events

6%

0.1%

1%

1%

11. Other

3. Event management and Presentation

11%

10. Technology

2. Logistics

2%

9. Media

1. Event Planning2%

8. Host Broadcaster

0.9%

7. Promotional Strategy

0.9%

6. Hospitality

15%

5. Medical & Anti-Doping

34%

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Bidding Requirements

Based on the World Athletics Global Calendar, the preferred dates for the World Athletics Cross
Country Championships is the second week of February, but we may be open to other dates.
The host region needs to be accessible to teams and equipment travelling from all parts of theworld, so reasonable proximity to an international airport is essential.
There are no hosting fees, but there are mandatory costs payable by hosts to World Athletics
relating to various services provided such as Accreditation, Event Presentation, the HostBroadcaster and Results Management Services.

Sports Requirements
The course must be designed on an open or woodland area, and mostly covered by grass,potentially with sections of sand, mud and water. It should include natural or temporary
obstacles, which can be used by the course designer to build a challenging and interesting race
course.
It is recommended that the course should have a cumulative elevation gain of 5-35 meters per
kilometer. Ideally a loop course is designed, with the loop measuring approximately 2000 m.
If the event concept, the landscape or a mass race concept requires another solution, we are
happy to discuss possible solutions. More information can be found in the World Athletics Cross
Country Course Design Guidelines.

Official Hotels and Meeting Rooms
Hosts will be required to provide a shortlist of official hotels available for the client groups
below in the Bid Application Form. Further information on numbers and duration will be provided
at a later stage in the Event Organisation Agreement for the following stakeholders::•••••

World Athletics Family and Partners
Athletes and Team Officials
Media
Host BroadcasterTechnical Suppliers and Service Providers

Bid Guide World Athletics Championships22Bidding Process
If you are interested in hosting either the 2024 or 2026 edition of the World Athletics Cross
Country Championships, please download a Pre-Qualification Form (available on our website)and submit this by close of business on the deadline set out below.
Bidding calendar for the 2024 and 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships
Bid Process Stage

Timeline

Official Launch & Bid Guide shared

April 2021

Pre-Qualification Form Submission Deadline

1 June 2021

Bid Application Documents Submission Deadline

1 October 2021

Event awarded by World Athletics Council

December 2021

If you would like to discuss the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in more depth
including the races, additional opportunities and the Pre-Qualification, you can contact us on
bidding@worldathletics.org, where you can also send your completed Pre-Qualification Form.

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