28 March 2018. In 1980, a university orienteering world championship was held in St. Gallen and on the Schwägalp pass for the first time. Following the European Universities Championship Tennis 2011 and Golf 2015, Unisport St.Gallen is once again the organiser of a major international student sports event, working closely with the City of St. Gallen’s sports office and Swiss Athletics.

Some 180 runners from 24 countries and all five continents signed up for the 2018 FISU World University Cross Country Championship. Experience shows that the teams from Africa, especially those from Morocco, Algeria, Kenya and Uganda, stand in particularly good stead. However, the teams from Australia, France and Turkey should not be underestimated either. It will be a challenge for the six Swiss athletes to rank in the first third.

Both men and women have to cover six laps of 1.6 km. The women's race starts on 7 April at 12.30 p.m., while the men’s kicks off at 2 p.m.

A running seminar will be held for trainers and mentors as part of the university championship’s supporting programme. Members of HSG, PHSG and FHSG will also take part in a charity run for the Special Olympics, an organisation that provides sporting activities to people with intellectual disabilities.

Photo: FISU