Dear sporting fellows, Loire is a sport district. Saint-Galmier is a sports town and proved it many times. We do really appreciate that the French Athletics Federation chose our town to organise these IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
Our hippodrome and annexed facilities are in accordance with every requirement of the specifications. Along with all the volunteers who will all be there, we will do everything in order that this international competition is a real succes

s. I do want to thank the city of Saint-Etienne and Michel THIOLLIERE, the Mayor of Saint-Etienne, who is also my colleague and friend and along with whom I already organised very important events, the success of which was the logical consequence of our efficient collaboration. In spite of being very different if we compare both populations of the two cities, those two cities do share the same sport ideal. Both of us wish that on next 19th and 20th of March, the Loire district, Saint-Etienne and Saint-Galmier but also every French man and woman will be excited by the feats made by the participants in these IAAF World Cross Country Championships. “

Jean Bouchardon