Latest news with #SergejDikun
Extra.ie
a day ago
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Fast-growing sport to host world championships in Limerick next year
One of the fastest growing sports in the world is set to hit Limerick next year as the Treaty City hosts the World Championships. The Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) world championships takes place in the Mid-West in August 2026, just two years before the sport makes it Olympics debut. As many as 4,000 athletes from 60 different countries are expected to flock to Limerick for the championships in what is sure to be a great boost for the economy in the county. The Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) world championships takes place in the Mid-West in August 2026, just two years before the fast-growing sport makes it Olympics debut. Pic: OCR Association/ Instagram The 2026 championships are set to take place at Limerick Racecourse from August 7 to 9, 2026, with the University of Limerick acting as the official Athlete Village. The exciting announcement comes ahead of the OCR 40m championships, which is set to take place at the University of Limerick later this month. 300 athletes from a wide range of European countries are set to take part in the championships from July 18. It will mark the first time a major international OCR competition takes place in Ireland. The exciting announcement comes ahead of the OCR 40m championships, which is set to take place at the University of Limerick later this month. Pic: UL Sport Arena President of ORCA Ireland, Sergej Dikun said the Irish leg of the organisation were 'honoured to bring the global OCR community to Limerick.' Sports Business Development Manager at the University of Limerick added that the sport was on the rise and UL was 'proud to help grow its global footprint by hosting the athlete village and supporting both this and the European championships. 'It shows the scale of what this region can deliver.' Obstacle Sports are a collection of sports composed of disciplines and events where athletes overcome obstacles in a timed competition, governing body Fédération Internationale de Sports d'Obstacles (FISO) say on their website. These sports include Nina Competitions; Obstacle Course Racing; Hybrid Racing and Adventure Racing with a range of event formats across all disciplines. FISO was founded in 2014, formalised in 2018 and recognized as the international governing body for Obstacle Sport disciplines in 2021. The latest news comes not long after the University of Limerick Sport Arena hosted the European Dodgeball Championships which saw competitors from England, Czechia, Portugal and more descending on the Treaty City.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
The Obstacle Course Racing world champs are coming to Limerick
In a massive boost for anybody who has ever arranged the deckchairs into a fiendish circuit on the lawn, Limerick is to host the 2026 Obstacle Course Racing World Championships, just two years before the sport makes its Olympics debut in Los Angeles 2028. The Fédération Internationale de Sports d'Obstacles (FISO) has confirmed the event will take place at Limerick Racecourse from August 7-9, 2026. More than 4,000 athletes from over 60 countries are expected to compete, with the University of Limerick serving as the official Athlete Village. Those numbers make it one of the largest international sporting events staged in the region, with organisers predicting a €2.8 million boost to the Mid-West economy. The sport has long evolved beyond its humble origins out the back of every house in the world. And Obstacle Course Racing is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, blending speed, strength, and strategy over a range of natural and man-made obstacles — including walls, rigs, rope climbs, carries, and crawls. Obstacle Course Racing is one of the fastest-growing sports globally and has now been elevated to Olympic status for Los Angeles 2028. Credit Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau. The World Championships in Limerick will feature a range of formats, from short and explosive 100m and 400m sprints to 2–3km technical courses, a 15km endurance race, and high-energy team relays. Sergej Dikun, President of OCRA Ireland, described the announcement as a landmark moment for Irish sport, 'Hosting the World Championships just two years before the sport's Olympic debut is a huge moment for Ireland. We're honoured to bring the global OCR community to Limerick — and to showcase the passion, people, and places that make the Mid-West Region so special.' Michael Lynch, CEO of Limerick Racecourse, looks forward to the repurposing of his arena. 'We are delighted to be working with the event stakeholders towards delivery of this prestigious event. This is a proud moment for us. Limerick Racecourse offers a potentially spectacular setting for OCR, and we can't wait to see it transformed into a world championship arena.'
