World Athletics President Sebastian Coe expressed enthusiasm for emerging track-and-field ventures that promise to revitalize the sport. Coe praised initiatives like Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track, set to launch next year, and Alexis Ohanian’s women-only Athlos, which debuted successfully in September. These ventures aim to attract top talent with substantial financial incentives.

Coe highlighted that these investments signify a newfound confidence in athletics:

"We should be comforted that we've created a landscape that people think it's worth investing in. They weren't doing that five years ago," he remarked after a World Athletics Council meeting. He emphasized collaboration over competition, expressing optimism about the positive impact on the sport's growth.

Pay for Olympic Champions and New Events

This year, World Athletics broke tradition by announcing prize money for Olympic gold medallists in Paris, a move that stirred controversy among other sports federations and the IOC. Coe defended the decision as a recognition of athletes' contributions:

"We survive financially because of the extraordinary nature of our athletes."

The Council approved several changes, including:

Mixed 4x100m relay: Introduced for the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou.

Race Walking Adjustments: The 20km and 35km races will be replaced with half-marathon and marathon distances.

The Ultimate Championship (2026)

A key initiative is the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship, with gold medallists set to earn $150,000. This three-day, TV-focused event aims to sustain interest during non-Olympic or non-World Championship years. Coe acknowledged that it wouldn’t include all traditional events, omitting disciplines like shot put, discus, and the 10,000m race. This has sparked frustration among some fans and athletes, but Coe defended the streamlined format:

"We don't have a billion eyeballs like during the Olympics. We consulted extensively, but not every discipline can fit a three-hour TV format over three nights."

Overall, Coe sees these innovations as essential steps to modernize and boost global interest in athletics.