Global Relay Teams Add Spice to Penn Carnival 2024
Organizers of the Penn Relay carnival will announce the final schedule of events soon for the 128th staging on April 25-27, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the US. And the much-heralded USA vs. The World Saturday afternoon feature will return in nature but not in name.
In addition, some of the most premier college programs in the country and top high school talent from the USA and Caribbean islands will be on show.
The USA vs. The World saw its last segment after the 2019 edition, much to the disappointment of fans who always turned out on the final day to see battles involving speed and endurance on the track among relay squads from the US and the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Justin Gatlin, Allyson Felix, and Carmelita Jeter are just a few among a long list of high-profile sprinters who have run on relay teams at Penn.
In a surprising move, Penn Relays has secured partnership with World Athletics, the world governing body for track and field, in staging that which will be the Global Relays for next year. Spectators who have traveled from far and wide to see USA vs. the world have received the news with much delight.
The Global Relays will again include countries from all over the world to compete in the 4×100 and 4×400 for both men and women. According to event organizers, more than 12 nations have already expressed their intent to compete at the 2024 Penn Relays,
Relay teams will be named later, and all four races will feature top teams in world rankings, as well as squads that competed in the 2021 Olympic finals and the most recent World Championships.
Steve Dolan, Director of the Penn Relays has said: “The Penn Relays is proud to welcome athletes from around the globe to Philadelphia.”
He also noted that “In 2019, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Athletics Heritage Plaque was presented to the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field as acknowledgment of the Penn Relays contribution to the worldwide history and development of the sport of track and field. We are honored to build on the rich history by providing an opportunity for international relay teams and individuals to compete as they prepare for the World Relays and Olympic Games.”
Pierce O’Callaghan, head of competition management for World Athletics noted that “teams get to finetune their baton changing and teamwork at the oldest relay meeting in the world in a high-pressure environment in front of 40,000 fans.”
Ticket renewal for previous buyers for next year’s Penn Relays begins on Friday, December 15, when a limited availability of premium finish line seating will go on sale. All other reserved and general admission tickets will go on sale to the public on Monday, January 29, 2024. The Penn Relays is the oldest relay meeting in the world.