World Athletics Championships

The World Athletics Championships is the biennial world championship of Athletics, started in 1976 in response to the men’s 50 km walk being removed from the Olympic programme ahead of the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.

The first Championships were held just a month and a half after the Olympics in Malmö, Sweden with a second event held in Sittard, Netherlands in 1980. The World Athletics Championship was officially inaugurated by the IAAF in 1983, with this event held at the Olympiastadion in Helsinki, Finland consider the first official competition.

Although Athletics at the Olympics is considered one of the most prestigious and watchable sports, the World Athletics Championships is still held in high regards and has seen a number of World Records broken. The United States are the most successful nation, winning over double the number of medals of any other country.


Which events are held at the World Athletics Championships?

There are 49 athletics Men’s, Women’s and Mixed events held at the World Athletics Championships including:

  • 100 metres
  • 4 x 100 metre relay
  • 200 metres
  • 400 metres
  • 4 x 400 metre relay
  • 4 x 400 metre relay (mixed)
  • 800 metres
  • 1500 metres
  • 5000 metres
  • 10,000 metres
  • Marathon
  • 3000 metres steeplechase
  • 110 metre (men)/100 metre (women) hurdles
  • 400 metre hurdles
  • High Jump
  • Pole Vault
  • Long Jump
  • Triple Jump
  • Shot Put
  • Discus Throw
  • Hammer Throw
  • Javelin Throw
  • Decathlon (Men)/Heptathlon (Women)
  • 20km race walk
  • 50km race walk

When is the World Athletics Championships?

The IAAF World Athletics Championships originally took place every 4 years but since 1991 takes place every two years, usually in August or September.

The 2023 World Athletics Championships is due to take place between the 19th and 27th August 2023.


Where are the World Athletics Championships?

The World Athletics Championships are held in a different host city for each championship, with the events focusing on one venue.

The 2023 World Athletics Championships will be held at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary.

The 2025 World Championships are due to take place at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.

Previous hosts of the World Athletics Championships include:

  • 1976 – Malmö Stadion (Malmö, Sweden)
  • 1980 – De Baandert (Sittard, Netherlands)
  • 1983 – Olympiastadion (Helsinki, Finland)
  • 1987 – Stadio Olimpico (Rome, Italy)
  • 1991 – National Stadium (Tokyo, Japan)
  • 1993 – Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion (Stuttgart, Germany)
  • 1995 – Ullevi (Gothenburg, Sweden)
  • 1997 – Olympiako Stadio (Athens, Greece)
  • 1999 – Estadio Olimpico (Seville, Spain)
  • 2001 – Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton, Canada)
  • 2003 – Stade de France (Paris, France)
  • 2005 – Olympiastadion (Helsinki, Finland)
  • 2007 – Nagai Stadium (Osaka, Japan)
  • 2009 – Olympiastadion (Berlin, Germany)
  • 2011 – Daegu Stadium (Daegu, South Korea)
  • 2013 – Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow, Russia)
  • 2015 – Beijing National Stadium (Beijing, China)
  • 2017 – London Stadium (London, United Kingdom)
  • 2019 – Khalifa International Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
  • 2022 – Hayward Field (Eugene, Oregon, United States)

How do I get to the 2023 World Athletics Championships?

The National Athletics Centre will be built on the eastern bank of the Danube in the south of Budapest.

Airport – The Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport is located about 24km away from Budapest, with flights to many European destinations as well as North America.

The city can be reached by bus in about 25 minutes, with bus route 100E running to Deák Ferenc tér in the city centre, costing 900 HUF. Alternatively, bus route 200E runs to the nearest metro station at Köbánya-Kispest, where you can catch Line 3 of the metro to the city.

Thinking of flying? Search & book your flights through Skyscanner here.


Hotels for the 2023 World Athletics Championships

Use TripAdvisor to find some great places to stay in Budapest by clicking here.

TripAdvisor

How do I get tickets to the World Athletics Championship?

The latest information will be available on the official website once available.


Further Information

World Athletics Championship Official Website


Last Updated on September 15, 2022 by Sports Tourist

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