The 1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships took place on 23 March 1997.

The races were held at the Parco del Valentino in Torino, Italy.

A report of the event was given in The New York Times,[1] in the Herald,[2] and for the IAAF.

[3][4] Complete results for senior men,[5][6] junior men,[7][8] senior women,[9][10] junior women,[11][12][13] medallists,[14] and the results of British athletes who took part[15] were published.

An unofficial count yields the participation of 725 athletes from 72 countries.