Sebastian Coe, the president of the international association (WA), said that the first so-called world final was awarded to Budapest, among other things, because the Hungarian capital organized the best outdoor world championship of all time last year.

Budapest can host the first athletics world finals in September 2026, which will be the peak event of the season.
The news was announced by Sebastian Coe, president of the international association (WA), on Monday in Budapest. The British sports leader said that

400 competitors from almost 70 countries, including the biggest stars, will take part in the competition,

with the creation of which WA aims to have a prestigious event for the sport that is watched all over the world every year when there is no World Cup.

Coe also spoke at the state secretariat responsible for sports about the fact that Budapest received the first so-called world final, among other things, because the Hungarian capital organized the best outdoor world championship of all time last year.

„In connection with the World Finals, we were looking for a host city that could be a world-class partner for this exciting new initiative and present the sport in an engaging way to fans from all over the world. Budapest has already proven that it can do this once, so we are very happy that the series of competitions starts from the Hungarian capital ”

- stressed the first man of WA.

The competition with a total prize of 10 million dollars will take place on September 11-13, 2026 The program will be three hours long on all three days, and Olympic and world champions, Diamond League winners and the best of the year can participate in the competition. All disciplines of the sport will be represented at the world finals, in addition to short-, middle- and long-distance running events, relay races, throwing events and jumping events will also be on the program.

Sebastian Coe said that, according to the plans, semi-finals and finals will be held at the top event, which takes place every two years, and this will create a serious competitive situation even for the best.

" The World Finals will be full of action and excitement for fans and will create a new level of athletics competition, " said Coe.

With the biggest stars in the field, it will be an unmissable competition, and at the same time, we will achieve that athletics organizes a world-class top competition every year.

For the first time in history, the sport will be able to attract the most attention every year.

Schmidt received Ádám Coe and several other WA leaders - CEO Jon Ridgeon and Communications Director Jamie Fox - at the State Secretariat.

"It is a great pride and a great success in sports diplomacy that the International Athletics Federation thought that Budapest could be a worthy home for the first world final, " said the state secretary. After the 2023 World Athletics Championships - which Sebastian Coe said was the best of all time - the Hungarian sports management began discussions with the international federation about how our country could remain in the blood circulation of athletics. We involved the Hungarian Athletics Association and the National Event Organizing Agency in the negotiations, and the Hungarian government considered that it could support Budapest being the first host of the new competition series. Our goal is that, like the World Cup, this new event will have a long-term positive impact on Hungarian sports life.

All participating athletes will benefit from the prize money, and the winners of the world finals will be enriched with 150,000 dollars.

MTI

Photo: MTI/Zoltán Máthé