The global governing body believes that it could help ‘develop the virtual running scene’
World Athletics is considering a World Treadmill Championships.
The global governing body, in an effort to broaden the sport to new markets, wants to ‘develop the virtual running scene’.
If the concept materialises, then World Athletics – who are already close to signing a deal with a technology partner for it – will follow the likes of rowing and cycling in having a global championships using gym equipment.
The World Indoor Rowing Championships, which started in 2018, sees athletes – over a variety of disciplines – compete against each other on rowing machines.
In cycling, you’ve got an Esports World Championships, where competitors ride bikes indoors on turbo trainers, using a virtual platform.
Running on treadmill (Getty)
“There are millions of people around the world that just go to the gym and run on the treadmill,” World Athletics chief executive Jon Ridgeon told The Daily Mail.
“We should create products for those people. We should have a Treadmill World Championships. You are an athlete if you go for a 30-minute run on a treadmill or if you win an Olympic gold medal in the 100m. It is all athletics.”
World Athletics’ decision to advocate for a global treadmill competition shouldn’t be particularly surprising, given the fitness and running world has experienced a recent boom in popularity.
For example, Hyrox – a fitness competition that combines five miles of running and eight functional workout stations – has witnessed a 1000% increase in participation over the past five years.
London Marathon (Getty)
In regards to running’s popularity, next year’s London Marathon saw a world record-breaking 840,318 people apply in the public ballot for an entry at the event.
That was up from 578,304 applications for this year’s edition, a 45.3% increase in just twelve months.
Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, when asked about a treadmill championships, added: “You might have to watch this space, but ultimately, why not? We have to embrace and we have got to take our sport to where people are. That is crucial.
“Whether it is through virtual, whether it is through Esports, whether it is through treadmill, these are all the things that we want to really explore.”
» Subscribe to AW magazine here, check out our new podcast here or sign up to our digital archive of back issues from 1945 to the present day here
The post World Athletics considering a World Treadmill Championships appeared first on AW.
