Trail running enthusiasts from the UK have embarked on an ambitious campaign to promote the inclusion of their sport in future Olympic Games. This initiative comes as trail running gains international attention, highlighted by British trail runner Jasmin Paris’s recent completion of the notorious Barkley Marathons and Russ Cook’s impressive run across Africa.
The campaign was kicked off with a significant gesture—a 455km relay run from London to Paris by members of various UK running clubs. This run, which concluded in the French capital on April 14, was organized to draw attention to the absence of trail running as an Olympic sport, despite its growing popularity and long history in off-road events.
Trail running was last seen as an official Olympic discipline a century ago at the 1924 Paris Games, under the category of cross-country running. The athletes participating in the recent relay emphasized the historical significance of reintroducing trail running to the Olympics, especially with the upcoming Paris 2024 Games, where new sports like breakdancing, surfing, skateboarding, and sport climbing will debut.
Jimi Harrison, a participant from the Keep On Keeping On running club, expressed the group’s sentiment in Paris, stating, “We ran from London to Paris ahead of the Games to raise awareness that trail running continues to be overlooked as an Olympic sport. We believe that new Olympic sports should reflect the trends and popularity of the current day and believe the time has come for trail running to be adopted at future Olympics.”
In an effort to formalize their request, supporters of the movement, backed by Merrell, an outdoor footwear company known for its involvement in trail running, have written an open letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), and the organizers of Brisbane 2032. This letter urges these bodies to consider trail running for inclusion when the Games head to Australia, marking a new cycle for the introduction of sports.
This campaign is not just a call for recognition but also an effort to align the Olympic sports lineup more closely with contemporary trends and the interests of today’s athletes and sports enthusiasts. The push to reintroduce trail running to the Olympics reflects a broader movement towards celebrating endurance sports that combine the thrill of competition with the beauty and challenge of natural landscapes.
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