New entry deadline for World University Cross-country

By James Bakama

The deadline for entry of competitors’ names for the World University Cross-country has been extended.

Submission of athletes and officials’ names together with teams’ itineraries was extended from February 22 to March 5.

Patrick Ssebuliba, who is in charge of the local organizing committee’s secretariat, explained that the extension followed instability in the world university body’s sports body online registration system.

By yesterday Canada, China, France and Germany had completed the registration.

A total of 31 countries have so far confirmed participation in the biennial meet at Entebbe golf course on March 22.

This will be the second edition of the event to be staged in Africa. The first was in Algiers in 2006.

All editions of the competition up to 2006 were hosted by Western European countries. North America also only got its first chance 2010 in Ontario, Canada.

First established in 1968 as a men’s only event, a women’s race was added in 1976 and FISU gave the event its official sanctioning two years later.

The programme of each championship consists of one men’s and one women’s race, with prizes available for individuals and national teams.