World Athletics has announced that it is looking at launching a World Treadmill Championships.
Taking advantage of the global boom in running and the growth of indoor fitness competitions such as Hyrox, event organisers are exploring the possibility of a brand-new concept in indoor running, which is being touted as the next step in athletics innovation.
Inspired by the success of indoor sports competitions in rowing, cycling and triathlons, World Athletics now wants a share of the success too. The question though is what kind of event will take place, and which kind of gym equipment will be used.
As chief executive Jon Ridgeon pointed out, athletics can involve anything from sprints to a 30-minute run. It could take the form of a traditional treadmill or involve a virtual component such as Esports.
This latter possibility would appear to be supported by the comments of former middle-distance champion and current president of World Athletics, Lord Sebastian Coe, who said his organisation is close to tying up a deal with a major tech company.
In this potential bid for a new market, Coe said it was right to try and take the sport to where people are. Time will tell what World Athletics have in mind, but it could prove an interesting new addition to the running calendar.
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