TIM HUTCHINGS tackles the topic of cross country in his latest column (p20). As a World Cross medallist, he knows a thing or two about this part of the sport and is upset that it has been outmanoeuvred by trendier trail races, big-city marathons, free 5kms and Tough Guytype challenges.
Three years ago the IAAF staged a cross-country crisis meeting (or ‘seminar’, as they called it) on Euro Cross weekend in Belgrade. Bizarrely, delegates from the Caribbean were invited while British stalwarts who have organised events for years (at home and abroad) didn’t even know it was taking place. The result was a large document packed with photos but light on ideas and not much has changed since.
Whatever happened to the campaign to get cross country into the Olympics? Haile Gebrselassie kickstarted the debate in 2008 for the sport to be included in the Winter Games, but the efforts have stalled.
Olympic status would give cross country more kudos, sponsorship and funding. It would get Africa involved in the Winter Games and would remind everyone of the beauty of running on mud not Mondo.