Hard blow for World Athletics. Athletics’ world governing body must find a new host for the 2024 world cross-country championships without delay. The event had initially been awarded to Croatia. It was to be held in the two cities of Medulin and Pula. But World Athletics explains that “preparations have not progressed sufficiently for Medulin and Pula to host the event on February 10 next year, as planned.” The body says it is in “advanced negotiations with another host in Europe.” This should be announced before the end of September. Created in 1973, the World Cross-Country Championships were last held in Europe in 2019, in the Danish city of Aarhus. The other three editions were cancelled due to the health crisis, before a return to the calendar this year, with an edition organized in Bathurst, Australia. Croatia has never before hosted the event.
