Cardiff has been chosen to host to the prestigious IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 2016.
The decision was announced in Monaco today (Friday 15, November) at the IAAF’s council meeting. The race will be another feather in the cap of Cardiff’s sporting success attracting the world’s best endurance athletes to the city in the build-up to 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
The Leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Heather Joyce said: “I am thrilled that Cardiff has been selected to host this significant and well-respected fixture in the athletics calendar which will attract competitors and spectators from all over the world.
“Previously hosted by countries including Brazil, China and Italy, this event will provide significant economic benefits for Cardiff and the city region as well as providing an economic boost for the rest of Wales. The event will also create significant amounts of funding estimated at £2m for charities and good causes as a result of the mass participation race.”
Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Ramesh Patel: “We have worked really hard to showcase Cardiff as a model host city for this event and through the success of the Cardiff Half Marathon the capital has demonstrated it has the capacity and infrastructure required.
“This hugely exciting news further compliments the city’s vast sporting event portfolio and promotes Cardiff to another international audience. It will showcase our heritage, infrastructure, amenities and landscape and I’m sure it will have a positive impact on the local economy giving a great boost to businesses such as hotels and restaurants as well as generating income for retailers.”
The event is the first of its kind to be staged in Wales and will be the biggest athletics event hosted by the Principality since the 1958 Commonwealth Games.
The race will take place in March 2016, with runners of all standards able to join in the same event as the elite athletes.
The Council has worked with Welsh Government, the world governing body of athletics, Welsh Athletics and UK Athletics on this successful bid process.
