“Heartfelt thanks to all those in Edinburgh who welcomed us and provided a highly successful and well organised World Cross Country Championships.” Lamine Diack, President of the IAAF, the international governing body for athletics.
Athletics is the major sport of the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics and forms an important part of Scotland’s events portfolio. From elite events to mass participation, EventScotland invests in and develops athletics events, which in turn attract participants from around the world, high spectator numbers and international media coverage.
In 2008, EventScotland supported the 36th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh. Edinburgh previously hosted the European Cross Country Championships and EventScotland has utilised both events to raise Scotland’s profile as a world class athletics destination.
EventScotland invested £325,000 in the 2008 Championships which were described as the 'best ever' World Cross Country Championships. The event was held in Holyrood Park against a backdrop of Arthur’s Seat where 12,000 spectators watched a day of record breaking athletics, which generated £3.2 million for Scotland’s economy.
In addition, EventScotland annually invests in the Edinburgh International Cross Country and Great Winter Run, one of the world’s top cross country races.
In 2010 Edinburgh hosted the ITU World Duathlon Championships with local girl Catriona Morrison winning the women’s race with plenty Scottish support on the gruelling circuit around the iconic Arthurs Seat at Holyrood Park.
Mass participation events also play a vital role in Scotland’s athletics portfolio and include prestigious events such as the BUPA Great Edinburgh Run and the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon which continues to grow in popularity each year.
In addition, EventScotland annually invests in the AVIVA International Match in Glasgow and the Edinburgh International Cross Country and Great Winter Run, one of the world’s top cross country races.
Since 2007 EventScotland has invested over £80,000 in the GE Strathclyde Park Triathlon. Hosted at Glasgow 2014’s triathlon venue, the event features a super sprint challenge, national sprint and national Olympic distance championships.
