New Deal Secured for Scotland to Host Great Run International Cross Country Until 2018

EventScotland, order the City of Edinburgh Council and NOVA International have announced a new deal to secure the Great Run International Cross Country for Scotland until 2018.

This year saw the 25th edition of the event in the UK with Garrett Heath from the USA taking the men’s 4k title, medicine while GB runner Gemma Steel took the women’s 6K race. Alongside the elite races, the event also includes the Great Winter Run 5k, which is attracts over 2500 amateur runners each year.

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: “Scotland is the perfect stage for events and the Great Run International Cross Country is an annual highlight on our sporting calendar. Attracting some of the biggest names in athletics, we are proud to host this world-class meet in Edinburgh.

“Taking place in Holyrood Park, in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat, the meet is a wonderful advert for our capital city, and it is credit to our credentials as a major event destination that we have secured a new deal for the Cross Country through to 2018.”

Cllr Steve Cardownie, Festivals & Events Champion for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I am delighted that, with the Council’s support, the Nova event can continue until at least 2018.

“The Great Edinburgh Cross Country race, staged in Holyrood Park in January, is of particular significance. Attracting some of the finest endurance runners in the world, it is worth around £1m to the local economy and, thanks to live coverage on the BBC, acts as a fantastic advert for the city.”

Nicky Homes, commercial director at Nova International added: “We’re delighted that the event will continue to be staged in Edinburgh, our aim for this event has always been to create a world-class festival of cross country running, and the support from our partners EventScotland and the City of Edinburgh council is invaluable in helping us achieve that. 

“The growing number of participants in the mass participation event and increase in enthusiastic spectators, as well as the consistent quality of elite athletes from around the world, show the event is going from strength to strength.”