Gdynia and Minsk to host 2020 World Athletics Series events – decision of IAAF Council | SWIM

Swim.by, SWIM Channel, Andrzej Waszkewicz

Gdynia and Minsk to host 2020 World Athletics Series events – decision of IAAF Council

The Polish port city of Gdynia which is part of the urban «Tricity» with Gdansk and Sopot, the latter held the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships, was this afternoon awarded the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 2020.

IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 2020 in Gdynia, Gdynia 2020, Minsk 2020, 2020 World Athletics Series, Poland Running, Swim.by

Photo: © Sport Evolution / Gdynia Half Marathon

IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 2020

Poland Running has seen tremendous growth in the last ten years. 6 million Poles run and there are 4500 running events staged annually, of which the half marathon is the most popular distance. The annual Gdynia Half Marathon is a IAAF Bronze Label Road Race.

Sebastian Coe commented: «We are always honoured when experienced member federations with proven organisational credentials and a strong athletics culture and tradition wish to host our competitions. Poland is a regular, well trusted host of IAAF World Athletics Series events and Gdynia’s bid application was very comprehensive and to the highest technical standards. Their intention to hold kids (‘Athletics For Everyone’) and mass races which attract young Poles to the sport and in association with the championships was very exciting.»

Piotr Dlugosielski – POL MF International Director, commented: «We are very thankful to the IAAF for putting their trust in us, this is the first time this event has been awarded to Poland. The new format, combining a mass event with elite athletes will help and boost our running movement in Poland. Our new project Athletics For Everyone, involves more than 100,000 children and it will be a big part of the World Half Marathon Championships.»

IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 2020 in Gdynia, Gdynia 2020, Minsk 2020, 2020 World Athletics Series, Poland Running, Swim.by

Photo: © Sport Evolution / Gdynia Half Marathon

IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships 2020

Minsk, the capital and largest city of Belarus, was today awarded the right to host the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships 2020.

This will be the first occasion that Belarus has ever staged an IAAF World Athletics Series event.

Minsk staged this summer’s European 10,000m Cup competition and holds an annual Minsk Half Marathon.

Sebastian Coe commented: «I’m pleased that we are taking our world athletics series to another country for the first time which will help the development and profile of athletics. The city centre course makes this an attractive event for spectators to follow and their plan to hold kids’ race walking and an extreme mass race for adults, will assist the promotion by building a direct connection with the community.»

Vadim Devyatovskiy, BLR commented: «We are very happy as this is our first experience with the IAAF (World Athletics Series) and we would like to integrate into the world athletics family. We hope that this event will be an important part of the history of athletics. We would like our youngsters, our teenagers and all other citizens of Belarus to take part in the (mass) race.»

IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships 2020 in Minsk, Minsk 2020, Minsh Half Marathon 2020, 2020 World Athletics Series, Poland Running, Swim.by