In an effort to make the event more attractive, the World Cross Country Championships will start mid morning on March 24th to allow people to attend two of the biggest sports events of the year in 2001. Because the Six Nations match with England at Lansdowne Road is scheduled for 3.0 p.m., the Athletics Association of Ireland (AAI) have decided to start Saturday's international programme at 11.0 a.m.

The cross country meeting, the biggest in the world next year, was won by Sonia O'Sullivan two years ago in Marrakesh. She is the only athlete to have won both the long-course and short-course races over the same weekend.

The track at Leopardstown Racecourse is approximately four miles from Lansdowne Road, so it should be relatively simple for spectators to attend both events. The AAI hope to attract 20,000 people for what is probably the best course in the history of the event in terms of spectating. The grandstand at the race course gives an unbroken and elevated view of the entire arena.