World Athletics Launches New Running & Mass Participation Department
A new Running & Mass Participation department has been formed by World Athletics to enhance global running initiatives.
New Department for Enhanced Focus
World Athletics has created a dedicated Running & Mass Participation department to intensify its engagement within the global running community.
Leadership and Experience
Jakob Larsen will take the helm of this new department. With 25 years of experience as an executive in international sports federations, Larsen has successfully developed notable events such as the World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen and the recent World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.
He will be joined by Alessio Punzi, who has played a vital role in enhancing World Athletics' reputation in the running sector over the past decade. Together, they will manage a wide range of initiatives including road running, marathon, cross country, mountain, and trail events.
A Broad Portfolio of Responsibilities
This department is set to oversee a comprehensive portfolio. This includes:
- The RUN X™ World Treadmill Championship
- The World Athletics Label Road Races program
- Regulatory and technical services
- Educational initiatives
- Development of partnerships in technology and data
The establishment of this department aligns with the excitement surrounding the upcoming TCS New York City Marathon, further highlighting the active year for World Athletics in the world of running.
Growth in Mass Participation Running
CEO Jon Ridgeon emphasized the significance of mass participation running, revealing that over 1 billion individuals globally engage in running in some form. He stated, "Mass participation running has the unique power to connect communities and improve mental wellbeing, social cohesion, and economic development in cities hosting events."
World Athletics is committed to three primary objectives: ensuring the safe governance of running activities, organizing premier global championships that recognize world champions, and promoting the growth of running both directly and indirectly.
Integrity and Innovation in Road Racing
Currently, over 320 road races worldwide hold a World Athletics road race Label, which is tied to a robust integrity program that raises about $3 million annually for anti-doping testing. World Athletics also invests more than $8 million yearly to uphold the integrity of road racing through its Athletics Integrity Unit.
To ensure fairness in elite competitions, World Athletics regulates shoe technology, advancing innovation while maintaining equal access for all major shoe brands. Additionally, they are involved in health and science initiatives, including race emergency medicine programs aimed at training medical directors globally.
Research and Future Directions
World Athletics actively seeks to mitigate health risks in endurance sports, conducting research on thermoregulation and its implications in a warming world. The insights gained from this research will be shared with mass participation organizers to help them adapt.
Ridgeon affirmed the organization's commitment: "We will continue directing resources towards positively influencing the running ecosystem, as we believe World Athletics has a crucial role in accelerating the growth of running, both through direct initiatives and by backing the efforts of others."
