The event saw 30,000 mass participants from 76 nations, as well as 222 elite athletes, run across the Danish capital in the largest World Half Marathon since 1998.

"Saturday we proved that Denmark has the ability to become a game changer and set new standards in terms of staging an IAAF World Half-Marathon well received by elite runners, mass participants, spectators, volunteers and the IAAF," said Jakob Larsen, chief executive of the DAF.

"The New York City Marathon Director Mary Wittenberg also participated in the race and subsequently complimented us on the set-up by saying "a running experience at the height of the New York City Marathon and the London Marathon.

"These two races are iconic and attract every year thousands of tourists to the cities.

"Saturday we showed that Copenhagen can provide a running experience in world class.

"We should follow up on this success."

Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor of Kenya led the men's field in the 2014 World Half-Marathon in Copenhagen, winning in 59mins 7secs ©Getty Images



The DAF now wants to stage a second International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Half-Marathon Championships in 2018 with the possibility of an annual Gold Label event similar to that of the marathons held in London, Boston, Lisbon Marathon and New York City.

The new race is still in preliminary planning stages however the desire is for the event to take place on the same course that was used for the 2014 World Half-Marathon.

"The combination of elite and mass participation is a true celebration of running and it is definitely a winner," said Lars Lundov, chief executive of Sport Event Denmark. 

"The plans of an annual running event, by Danish Athletic Federation, are a good idea.

"This IAAF World Half Marathon 2014 in Denmark has once again proven that Denmark is capable of hosting international sporting events of world class.

"We should share the experiences of staging and we should definitely go for a future running event with high international attention.

"An IAAF World Half-Marathon in 2018 sounds like a good goal for Denmark."

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