Deutsch
English
ItalianoUpdated 10.11.2022
With the end of the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand, the focus in these sports is now entirely on the title bouts in Tyrol from 6-10 June 2023
The ceremony was simple and time-honoured. At the end, it was no longer the organisers of the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships from Chiang Mai in Thailand who held the flag of the International Association of Athletics Federations (World Athletics) in their hands, but Alexander Pittl, Managing Director of the 2023 World Championships in Innsbruck-Stubai. In the north of Thailand, what is already known was made official: After a World Championship is always before a World Championship.
The one in Tyrol will take place in exactly seven months, and in order to be prepared in the best possible way, a delegation of seven from Austria was present at the championships in Asia. Representatives of the tourism associations Innsbruck and Stubai as well as of the organising committee studied how the Thai organisers dealt with challenges in the logistical and organisational area or in the communication sector at the first major event of this kind (mountain running and trail running held joint world championships for the first time); they held talks with leading representatives of the organising international federations, with members of the local organising committee, with media representatives, but also with officials and athletes of national federations. Participants from near and far agreed: the trip to Thailand has paid off, the organisers have done a lot right in many areas - for example, the route, accommodation, transport.
Respect for Thailand and confidence for Tyrol
World Championships boss Alexander Pittl could only agree with this assessment: "We all know that it is not easy to organise major sporting events. My thanks go to our Thai friends who have managed this WMTRC in an exemplary manner and have set a benchmark for us. Of course, many things will be different in Innsbruck, starting with the layout of the courses or the climatic conditions, but overall the challenge remains to stage an event that hopefully leaves nothing to be desired."
"The pictures from Thailand make us want more. I am sure that the pictures here with us from Tyrol will also be unique next year and that we will once again draw attention to the excellent conditions that our mountain world has to offer for this up-and-coming sport," emphasised Karin Seiler, Managing Director of the Tirol Tourist Board.
Valuable experience gained
Roland Volderauer, Managing Director of the Stubai Tirol Tourist Board, said: "Together with my colleagues David Wallner and Andreas Stern, who are responsible for the project, we experienced the organisation and running of the first Mountain Running and Trail Running World Championships live. In addition to gathering valuable insights, we also managed to further expand our contacts with international stakeholders and national sports federations. We are looking forward to a successful World Cup 2023 with our partners!"
Christoph Stock, Deputy Managing Director of Innsbruck Tourism, said: "By visiting the first edition of this major international sporting event, my colleague Julia Zraunig and I were able to gain valuable experience as well as enter into active exchange with the national and international sports associations. Many have signalled how much they are looking forward to the next World Championships in Innsbruck-Stubai and would like to send correspondingly large delegations. Thus, we expect a high number of athletes and many overnight stays in the region."
Red-white-red success
Of course, the Austrian participants were also strongly cheered on at the World Championships in Thailand, and the entire delegation rejoiced with Dr. Andrea Mayr over her next World Championships medal - silver in the Vertical.
Social media channels launched
During the World Championships in Thailand, the Instagram and Facebook channels of the WMTRC 2023 went online, where news about the big mountain and trail running happening in Tyrol 2023 will be posted regularly.