Lausanne (Switzerland), Sep 15 : World Athletics has decided to withdraw the hosting rights of the World Cross Country Championships 2024 from Croatia because of lack of preparations. A new host will be announced soon for the event to be held in February next year. "World Athletics regrets to announce that the World Athletics Cross Country Championships 2024 will no longer be held in Medulin and Pula in Croatia," track and field's world governing body informed in a statement on Friday. World Athletics believes that preparations have not advanced sufficiently for Medulin and Pula to host the event on February 10 next year, as scheduled. However, World Athletics is in advanced negotiations with an alternative host in Europe with a view to staging the event in March 2024. The new host will be announced before the end of September. World Athletics looks forward to working with Croatia on future events, the organisation said. /IANS