Belfast has won the race to host the 12th IAU 24 Hour World Championships in 2017.
The ultra running championships, which are held every two years, will be staged in Victoria Park in east Belfast on Saturday 1 July and Sunday 2 July 2017.
The last race – held in Turin 2015 – attracted 300 of the world’s top competitors from 45 nations.
The International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU), which administers the long-distance running wing of the sport for the IAAF, made the announcement at its Executive Council meeting in Monaco, following what it described as “a good competition.”
“It is with great pleasure that I can confirm that Belfast has been allocated the organisation of the 2017 24 Hour World Championships,” said Dirk Strumane, IAU President.
“Belfast presented us with a convincing, well-structured and strongly supported bid and we are looking forward to a fruitful and constructive co-operation.”
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Arder Carson, welcomed today’s announcement as further evidence of the city’s ability to attract and stage world-class sporting events.
“Congratulations to the organising committee on bringing another major event here. This will be a further opportunity to showcase our city, let the competitors, spectators and visitors experience all that Belfast has to offer and demonstrate what good hosts we are,” he said.
The Belfast bid had struggled initially to gather the required underwriting to allow it to go forward but backing from Belfast City Council, long-time sponsors Energia and members of the local organising committee got it across the line at the eleventh hour.
“It was touch and go for a while but, as well as getting the guarantees in place, there was support from Athletics NI, acting on behalf of UK Athletics, Athletics Ireland, whose National Championships we have hosted since 2012, the Charles Hurst Group, Dame Mary Peters and from across the political spectrum,” explained Ed Smith, Bid Chairperson and Race Director.
“I’m delighted that all the committee’s hard work has resulted in this recognition, and am also delighted for the city, east Belfast and Victoria Park is now firmly established as an international venue, thanks to its key role in the larger Connswater Community Greenway project.
“We realise that there are no eye-catching household names in this branch of athletics – it’s all about endurance and survival but, hopefully with these championships, we can bring a spotlight to bear on the park and the whole city with the influx of athletes and visitors. We will certainly be doing our best to deliver a memorable event next July.”
Gas and electricity supplier Energia has supported Belfast’s regular 24 Hour race, Energia24, since 2010. The council has also supported the race, through its Support for Sport programme.
It will now switch locations, from the Mary Peters Athletics Track, to the 1.7K circuit at Victoria Park for this year’s event, on 25 and 26 June, as a ‘dress rehearsal’ ahead of the 2017 championships. It is hoped several international runners will also attend to visit the course in advance.
“From small beginnings, the race has developed into a magnificent occasion, and I am thrilled that the dream of becoming a major international event has been realised, “said Tom Gillen, Group Managing Director. “We will give every support we can in helping to deliver the 2016 race, and then the 24 Hour World Championships in 2017.”
2017 promises to be a big year for athletics across the UK, with the IPC World Championships for para athletes taking place at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London (15-23 July), followed by the IAAF World Championships (5-13 August).
RELEASE ENDS
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
Background information – IAU 24 Hour World Championships
• The International Association of Ultra Runners (IAU) is based in Monaco. It operates under the patronage of the IAAF, delivering ultra distance running internationally within the IAAF rules. It has 81 member federations.
• The 24-Hour Championship is a form of ultra marathon, in which a competitor runs as far as they can. It is a 1-2-3 podium men’s and women’s race. There is also a nations’ team race. Competitors have ‘crews’ to help them. They tend to ‘fuel’ as they go and only take toilet breaks – although they can leave the course for rest periods. The top athletes are capable of running six marathons back-to-back.
• The men’s world record was set by Greek Yiannis Kouros in Adelaide, Australia at 304km (189 miles) in 1997
• The women’s world record was set by Japan’s Mami Kudo in Soochow Taipei, Taiwan at 254km (158 miles) in 2009
• The best Irish performance at a World Championship was fifth from Cork’s Eoin Keith in Bergano in 2009 (237km/147 miles) and seventh from Cork’s Ruthann Sheahan in Katowice in 2012 (229km/142 miles)
• From being staged every year, the World 24 Hour Championship is now held every two years, alternating with the European Championships which will be held this year in Albi, France on 22 and 23 October
• Previous World Championship hosts have included: Uden (Netherlands), Brno (Czech Republic), Worschach (Austria), Taipei (Taiwan), Drummondville (Canada), Seoul (South Korea), Bergano (Italy), Brive (France), Katowice (Poland), Steenbergen (Netherlands) and Turin (Italy – 2015).
Background information – Energia24
• 2010 – First 24-hour race held in Belfast. 18 people took part.
• 2011 – A team relay and 12-Hour race added. 51 people took part.
• 2012 – With ongoing work at the Mary Peters Athletics Track, the race moved to the Sportsplex in Bangor. It was awarded National Championship status.
• 2013 – New national men’s and women’s track records were set at the refurbished Mary Peters Athletics Track. 21 competitors ran beyond 100 miles (161km).
• 2014 – For the first time, the Irish title was shared. A 100km race was introduced. The winner – Paul Martelletti from New Zealand – produced the fastest time witnessed in Ireland (6hr, 57 min). 2.4min and 24sec races were introduced for youngsters.
• 2015 – The National Championships were awarded for the next three years. The race welcomed its first wheelchair and blind athletes. Seven athletes went past 200km (124 miles) and 35 went beyond 100 miles (161km). Seven countries were represented and over 20 Irish counties.
• 2016 – The race will to the 1.7km circuit at Victoria Park ahead of the 2017 IAU 24 Hour World Championships.
Major Belfast sporting events
• 1999 – World Cross Country Championships, Barnett Demesne
• 2001 – World Amateur Boxing Championships, Odyssey Arena
• 2013 – World Police and Fire Games, venues across Belfast
• 2014 – Giro D’Italia bike race, Titanic Quarter
• 2015 – Tall Ships, Belfast Lough
• 2015 – Red Bull Crashed Ice Cross Downhill World Championships, Stormont
• 2015 – Sports Personality of the Year Awards, SSE Arena
• 2017 – IAU 24-Hour World Championships, Victoria Park
• 2017 – Women’s Rugby World Cup, Kingspan Stadium
• 2021 – Commonwealth Youth Games