The IAAF Global Seminar on cross country running will take place on 9 December 2013, the day after the 2013 SPAR European Cross Country Championships in the Serbian capital of Belgrade.
The major issues facing cross country participation and cross country running in general shall be discussed.
The seminar will be chaired by IAAF Vice President Sebastian Coe and has an impressive line-up of speakers, including five gold medallists at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships: Benjamin Limo (KEN), Sonia O’Sullivan (IRL), Paula Radcliffe (GBR), Annette Sergent-Petit (FRA) and Craig Virgin (USA).
A number of other former world class distance runners from around the world, both on the track and at cross country, as well as several renowned coaches and sport physiologists, will be present and provide contributions as part of a round table discussion on the future of cross country running.
One key topic will be cross country training and competition for elite distance runners.
There will be nearly 100 participants from all six IAAF Area Associations at the seminar, which is open to all IAAF Member Federations, with the main target groups being Member Federation personnel with a responsibility for distance running and Cross Country activities, as well as coaches of distance and cross country athletes.