This is crazy. One of the reasons the fields were so solid in Atlanta was because athletes wanted to compete at Worlds in the U.S. what the hell happened ?
LRC update: Here is WA statement:
WA wrote:
Following detailed discussions between World Athletics and the Local Organising Committee of the World Athletics Road Running Championships San Diego 25, it has been agreed that the World Athletics Road Running Championships will no longer be held in San Diego in September as planned.
World Athletics is currently talking to other potential hosts and expects to announce another location shortly. We would like to thank the San Diego 25 team for their work over the last few months and hope we are able to find another opportunity to host a World Athletics event in San Diego in the future.
Commenting on the decision, Tracy Sundlun, CEO of San Diego 25, said: "We really looked forward to welcoming the running world to San Diego this September but sadly it is not to be at this time. For now, all of us here on Team San Diego will do everything in our power to assist World Athletics in the seamless transition of the 2025 Championships to a new venue."
Monaco-based World Athletics announced early Wednesday that its September World Road Running Championships will be moved from San Diego to a locale still to be decided.
This is crazy. One of the reasons the fields were so solid in Atlanta was because athletes wanted to compete at Worlds in the U.S. what the hell happened ?
They didn't give a reason in the WA announcement. Hopefully they keep it in the USA.
Be a journalist and dig into this! Even if it pisses some people off. This, Junior Olympics, BAA pulling out of the 10K road championships - something is afoot and needs to be exposed. This is far more important that softball interviews of athletes and gossip podcasts.
There are three main things involved in hosting something like this:
The organizational issues - do you have sponsors, hotels, permits, paperwork, logistics and local support in the hosting community?
The volunteer and staffing issues - do you have the people on the ground who can run an event like this?
And of course, the money to pay for all of the above? A world-class event is not cheap.
So this makes me wonder which aspect was too much for USATF to handle? Where did it break down? Maybe talking to the local side of the event (not just USATF) will help get you to a more "real" and honest answer since WA and USATF will likely be keen on downplaying whatever happened...
There are three main things involved in hosting something like this:
The organizational issues - do you have sponsors, hotels, permits, paperwork, logistics and local support in the hosting community?
The volunteer and staffing issues - do you have the people on the ground who can run an event like this?
And of course, the money to pay for all of the above? A world-class event is not cheap.
So this makes me wonder which aspect was too much for USATF to handle? Where did it break down? Maybe talking to the local side of the event (not just USATF) will help get you to a more "real" and honest answer since WA and USATF will likely be keen on downplaying whatever happened...
Regardless of the issues with the San Diego event World Athletics desperately needs to make sure this is something that does not keep happening. World XC was moved last year and I think most would agree it resulted in a substandard event. Hopefully they can put something better together for world road running, but in a serious sport world champs can’t be shuffled like this.
Be a journalist and dig into this! Even if it pisses some people off. This, Junior Olympics, BAA pulling out of the 10K road championships - something is afoot and needs to be exposed. This is far more important that softball interviews of athletes and gossip podcasts.
Where’s the press on this? Has anybody asked Tracy why? USA continues to be a joke in every aspect on the world stage. When does the other shoe drop? World XC? LA 28? Things are going to get ugly.
Where’s the press on this? Has anybody asked Tracy why? USA continues to be a joke in every aspect on the world stage. When does the other shoe drop? World XC? LA 28? Things are going to get ugly.
How can anyone not understand that it is always about money? Without signed sponsorship contracts, San Diego cannot allocate permits, resources etc. to any event, much less one the size of a World Championship. I would suspect that San Diego '25 had lined up several smaller sponsors, but never a Title sponsor that would have closed the deal with the city.
There are three main things involved in hosting something like this:
The organizational issues - do you have sponsors, hotels, permits, paperwork, logistics and local support in the hosting community?
The volunteer and staffing issues - do you have the people on the ground who can run an event like this?
And of course, the money to pay for all of the above? A world-class event is not cheap.
So this makes me wonder which aspect was too much for USATF to handle? Where did it break down? Maybe talking to the local side of the event (not just USATF) will help get you to a more "real" and honest answer since WA and USATF will likely be keen on downplaying whatever happened...
You are correct.
But it's not like Tracy Sundlun - CEO of San Diego 25 - isn't aware of that. He's extremely experienced and was the founder of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series and the creator of the National Scholastic Indoor Track & Field Championships
To be honest, I'm not sure USATF has much of anything to do with this. I'd actually love it if their management failures did have something to do with this. I mean if they were competently run, they could help prop up events like this but I imagine this has little to do with them. One thing is clear - whoever is to blame - this is a big embarrassment of the USA. Copenhagen 2026 is alredy Rock n Rolling - pardon the pun.
Toni Reavis is out in San Diego and knows Sundlun so hopefully he can get to the bottom of this or Ken Stone. I'll have Jonathan Gault make a few calls as well.
This is insane to back out of a global championship over a year after being announced as a host. I had actually booked travel to go run the masses race that weekend. Are there any races or events in San Diego or Orange County that weekend?
There are three main things involved in hosting something like this:
The organizational issues - do you have sponsors, hotels, permits, paperwork, logistics and local support in the hosting community?
The volunteer and staffing issues - do you have the people on the ground who can run an event like this?
And of course, the money to pay for all of the above? A world-class event is not cheap.
So this makes me wonder which aspect was too much for USATF to handle? Where did it break down? Maybe talking to the local side of the event (not just USATF) will help get you to a more "real" and honest answer since WA and USATF will likely be keen on downplaying whatever happened...
All the money is going to Max's salary and perks so not enough left for events.
There are three main things involved in hosting something like this:
The organizational issues - do you have sponsors, hotels, permits, paperwork, logistics and local support in the hosting community?
The volunteer and staffing issues - do you have the people on the ground who can run an event like this?
And of course, the money to pay for all of the above? A world-class event is not cheap.
So this makes me wonder which aspect was too much for USATF to handle? Where did it break down? Maybe talking to the local side of the event (not just USATF) will help get you to a more "real" and honest answer since WA and USATF will likely be keen on downplaying whatever happened...
All the money is going to Max's salary and perks so not enough left for events.
It does seem to be the point that that grifter is a major cause of the sport suffering in the US.
No notification in my email that the masses race is cancelled and as of right now they are still taking new entrants. It looks like the whole thing was planned but usatf as a con to gain money for entrants to the masses races.
Well they better figure out where it will be hosted FAST. It takes A LOT to organize something like this with permits, police involvement, volunteers, hotel arrangements, flights, etc.
