Another major sports governing body has responded to the threat of external innovation with innovation of its own.
We reported recently on how speed-skating had launched a Short Track World Tour, following the proposed launch of an alternative competition outside the governing body’s control.
This week, World Athletics has announced a ‘game-changer’ Ultimate Championship event, with president Seb Coe promising to ‘bring our fans athletics like they have never seen it before – with the best of the best athletes in our sport competing head-to-head in a passion-fuelled, high octane, festival of sport, with sound, light and innovation.’
The event will bring 360 athletes to Budapest, Hungary for a ‘made-for-TV’ track and field programme over three days in September 2026. They plan to hold Ultimate Championship events every two years, in years when there is no World Championship.
‘This is where the world’s greatest athletes settle the debate,’ it declares: ‘No heats, straight to finals.’
This comes just days after Michael Johnson’s track-only Grand Slam Track confirmed the four host cities for its inaugural season in spring 2025. Since the summer, Grand Slam Track has done well to maintain post-Olympics momentum, with a drip-feed of updates including athlete announcements.
Ultimate Championship will have a ‘record-setting prize pot’ of US$ 10 million, said to be the largest ever offered in track and field, with champions set to receive US$150,000. This compares to US$100,000 for victory in a Grand Slam Track event – although of course, Grand Slam Track will offer four opportunities per year.
Athletes will wear national kit at Ultimate Championship, but unlike other international competitions, there will be no cap on how many athletes from each country can compete in each event.
World Athletics confirmed that a host broadcaster had already been appointed, Tata Communications and HBS; and indicated that it intended to focus on free-to-air platforms. InsideTheGames notes that Grand Slam Track has yet to announce its broadcast plans, with Johnson ‘still seeking the ideal partner’.
World Athletics president Seb Coe is currently in contention to succeed Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee – as is the president of cycling’s governing body, David Lappartient.