Spartan and World Obstacle announce Memorandum of Understanding to unify and promote obstacle racing worldwide.

Lausanne, Switzerland (November 11, 2022): Spartan and World Obstacle, the Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and established a cooperation framework to develop the sport of obstacle racing worldwide. The collaboration includes the sanctioning and hosting of elite-level races, cooperation on competition rules, officiating and training, anti-doping rules, and broadcast planning to assist with the growth of events for the benefit of the global obstacle racing community. 

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was developed over a period of months by both parties, citing key priorities and steps to ensure the growth and harmonization of Obstacle Sports. The agreement focuses on SafeSport functions, gender representation, athletic diversity, anti-doping efforts, international events, national federation relations, sanctioning, and collaborative marketing, sponsorship and media initiatives to grow obstacle sports at every level. 

The brand-sport alignment also provides an enhanced pathway for elite athletes to national team representation, international championships, and multi-sport Games recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

“Obstacle racing has come a long way in the 10-plus years we’ve been promoting the sport,” said Spartan founder and CEO Joe De Sena. “Now, the best thing to help obstacle sports grow at all levels is to work together with the International Federation and its members around the world. This is literally the evolution of a sport right before our eyes.”

“This initiative has been in discussion since 2014, when Joe [De Sena] first proposed taking the sport to the Olympics” said World Obstacle President Ian Adamson. “The collaboration advances our goals of providing sport for all and meeting the intent of the International Olympic Committee’s Agenda 2020+5 and the Olympic movement.”

Spartan and World Obstacle are committed to establishing the highest level of ethics and transparency through better governance, world-class events, and representation for all athletes. The MOU outlines guidelines to further a culture of sustainability and social responsibility in events and in the OCR community. The higher goal is to contribute to the greater good of humanity by inspiring 100 million people to get fit and healthy through participation in obstacle sports. This is to be achieved without discrimination or bias of any kind, and with a vision to facilitate mutual understanding, collaboration, friendship, and fairness between the athletes and all parties of interest.

“World Obstacle is excited to collaborate with Spartan,” said Adamson. “We believe we are stronger together, and in the spirit of obstacle course racing, working with Spartan demonstrates our commitment to elevating the sport for the benefit of athletes worldwide.”

About World Obstacle

World Obstacle, the Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO), is a Swiss based not-for-profit independent international sports organization made up of volunteers to develop obstacle sports and events worldwide. FISO provides governance, systems, and structure to represent the needs of its member national federations and their athlete communities in over 100 countries. FISO was granted Observer Status of GAISF (the Global Association of International Sports Federations) in 2021, a critical step toward a sport’s potential Olympic recognition.

About Spartan 

With more than 250 events across more than 40 countries on six continents, Spartan is the world’s largest obstacle race and endurance brand. Providing transformation through sport, Spartan attracts more than one million annual participants across all fitness levels, from beginners to elite. More than five million participants have finished Spartan events, creating a lifestyle that extends beyond races including health and wellness products, training and nutrition programs, and popular media content, which has made obstacle racing one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Spartan events feature races over many distances, including an exciting new 3K multi-lap format, theSpartan Stadion® and Spartan Sprint®: 5k with 20 obstacles; Spartan Super®: 10k and 25 obstacles; Spartan Beast®: half marathon and 30 obstacles; and Spartan Ultra™: 50k and 60 obstacles. Visit spartan.com for more information and registration.

More Information: 

About World Obstacle
About Spartan Race

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