World Athletics has officially inaugurated a new department, Running & Mass Participation, tasked with managing the governing body’s extensive involvement in the sport. This structural shift aims to consolidate responsibilities that range from elite-level global championships to the technical regulations and services essential for everyday runners. The department will be led by Jakob Larsen, a veteran with 25 years of experience in international sports management, including roles in the 2014 World Half Marathon Championships and the 2019 World Cross Country Championships. Larsen will work alongside Alessio Punzi, who has been instrumental in developing the organization’s running initiatives over the past decade.
The scope of the new department is notably broad, covering road running, marathons, cross country, mountain and trail disciplines, and the recently introduced RUN X World Treadmill Championship. Beyond staging events, the team will manage the World Athletics Label Road Races program, technical education, and potential partnerships related to data and technology. This reorganization reflects the governing body’s desire to create a centralized point of accountability for a sport that extends far beyond the televised finals of major championships.
World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon highlighted that internal research estimates at least one billion people worldwide participate in some form of running, positioning it as the most popular sport globally. Ridgeon emphasized that the organization’s primary objectives are to ensure safe regulation, organize premier global championships, and foster the growth of mass participation. These efforts are intended to support public health, mental wellbeing, and local economies, though the specific methods and metrics used to calculate the one billion figure remain broad.
The practical impact of this department will be measured by its influence on race-day operations. Currently, more than 320 road races carry a World Athletics Label. The organization already manages a road-race integrity program that generates approximately US$3 million annually for anti-doping efforts, while investing over US$8 million into the Athletics Integrity Unit. Furthermore, the governing body is active in developing emergency medicine training for race directors and researching heat-regulation strategies to help organizers mitigate risks associated with climate change.
While the creation of this department signals a clear intent to expand the organization’s influence, it remains to be seen how these administrative changes will translate into tangible improvements for race organizers and participants. As the organization prepares for upcoming events like the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Cape Town, the focus will remain on whether this new structure can effectively balance innovation, safety, and fairness across the diverse spectrum of the running world.
