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From 6 to 10 June 2023, Innsbruck and Stubai will host the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2023 (WMTRC 2023), the country's biggest summer sports event, which will make Tyrol the international centre for mountain running and trail running. The press conference held in view of the World Championships at Villa Blanka in Innsbruck attracted great interest among media representatives.
The Innsbruck - Stubai host community was able to assert itself against strong international competition and bring the WMTRC 2023 to Tyrol. The "International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU), the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) and the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) under the coordination of the international world athletics federation (World Athletics) based their decision in favour of the Tyrolean regions on their excellent reputation as leading alpine sports regions, the professionalism of the application documents submitted and their proven experience in organising major events.
Alessio Punzi, Head of Running and Mass Participation of World Athletics (WA) on the award of the 2023 WMTRC to Innsbruck - Stubai: "The selection process was not easy, as all four international applicants fulfilled the required conditions. In the end, however, we and our colleagues from the IAU, the ITRA and the WMRA were convinced by the unique mountain landscape of Tyrol, the special combination of urban and alpine as well as the great know-how in the disciplines of mountain running and trail running."
Both technically and organisationally, the World Championships will be led by Alexander Pittl, founder of the Innsbruck-based "Laufwerkstatt" and initiator of the "Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival" (Austria's largest running event and third largest in the DACH region). Pittl is considered a pioneer in mountain and trail running in Tyrol and informed about the planned routes and distances: "We are expecting around 1,400 active athletes from at least 60 nations who will run for the titles and medals to be awarded - men and women, individual and team. There will be a total of four races along beautiful routes, including a Vertical in the Stubai, a Short Trail over 40 km and a Long Trail over 80 km as well as the Classic Race as a spectacular 'Up-and-Down' race in Innsbruck. The exact routes are currently being worked out."
Deputy Governor Josef Geisler was delighted that Tyrol had been awarded the World Mountain and Trailrunning Championships 2023: "Hosting this major event will further strengthen Tyrol's international reputation and positioning as a leading sports region in the Alps. Mountain running and trail running are particularly environmentally friendly outdoor sports in harmony with nature, which stand for sustainable tourism development in our country."
City Councillor for Sport Elisabeth Mayr agrees: "Innsbruck can present itself as a 'city in the mountains' with this major sporting event. We don't have to expand or rebuild anything, we use and show what is there: a liveable city in the heart of Europe, embedded in a unique mountain world."
Karin Seiler, Managing Director of the Tirol Tourist Board, is also convinced of the added value for Tyrol of hosting the World Championships: "From a tourism point of view, mountain sports are part of the DNA of our country. The images of our unique mountain world that will go around the world at this World Mountain Running and Trail Running Championships will strengthen the Tyrol brand and the desirability of a nature-oriented holiday in Tyrol.'
Ideal conditions in Innsbruck and the Stubai
The host regions offer perfect conditions for the various disciplines. Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, impresses with its unique combination of event infrastructure and hotels in the immediate vicinity of the mountains. The Stubai, on the other hand, scores with its top holiday hotel industry and spectacular natural landscape
"The World Championships will gather the elite trail and mountain runners from all over the world in Tyrol, who will run here through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe," Ida-Sophie Hegemann and Florian Grasel are eagerly anticipating their possible participation. "Even though it will be very sweaty, we are really looking forward to experiencing the freedom and closeness to nature of our sport in the exciting atmosphere of the World Championships!" Kristin Berglund, will not be running the World Championships due to injury, but will certainly be watching with excitement.
Mario Gerber, chairman of Innsbruck Tourism, is a strong supporter and is looking forward to the World Championships: "I am personally very pleased that we have met the high demands of the committee and that we can welcome the Trail Run World Championships here in 2023 together with the Stubai Tourism Association. Innsbruck already has everything in terms of infrastructure that is needed for the successful staging of this World Cup - nature is the stage for the athletes. In the alpine they show their top performances and in the urban we celebrate them. With the Expo area directly in the city centre in front of the Congress Innsbruck, the excellent hotels and restaurants as well as the historical and cultural offerings in combination with the sporting event, we offer participants and spectators an unforgettable overall experience. I invite all Tyroleans and all our guests to experience the World Cup days - with free admission. When the athletes reach the finish line after hours of top performances, these are highly emotional moments that you won't forget in a hurry."
In the Stubai, spectacular routes are being worked on, said the chairman of the Stubai Tourism Association, Adrian Siller, at the press conference. "We are planning literally breathtaking trails along the Kalkkögel to Neustift in the Stubai all the way up to the Elfer. The Vertical Uphill will lead from Neustift over steep serpentines through the forest to the Autenalm at 1658 m above sea level. From there, the route climbs moderately to the mountain station of the Elfer cable cars until the final mercilessly steep ascent to the Elferhütte (2004 m above sea level)."
Further information can be found at: www.innsbruck-stubai2023.com
Press contact:Egon TheinerHead of Marketing and Communications 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running ChampionsshipsAlpine Trailrun Festival GmbHm +43.660.5951666e egon.theiner@innsbruck-stubai2023.com