Moscow to host 2030 World Athletics Championships
The International Association of Athletics Federations (World Athletics) has awarded Moscow the right to host the 2030 senior World Athletics Championships. The decision marks the first time an international Olympic-sport federation has allowed a championship of this level to take place in Russia since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Key points
- Moscow was selected to host the 2030 senior World Athletics Championships.
- The decision was made by the IAAF (World Athletics) Executive Board.
- It is the first championship of this level awarded to a Russian city since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
- Prishtina, Kosovo, will host the 2028 World U20 Championships.
- Caracas, Venezuela, will host the 2028 World U18 Championships.
- Ahmedabad, India, will host the 2029 senior World Athletics Championships.
- World Athletics has not yet announced the exact dates and venue for the 2030 event in Moscow.
Why it matters
The decision represents the first time since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine that an international Olympic-sport federation has allowed a tournament of this stature to take place on Russian territory. It follows World Athletics' earlier move to lift restrictions on Russian athletes' participation in international competitions.
What happened
The World Athletics Executive Board awarded Moscow the hosting rights for the 2030 senior World Athletics Championships. The announcement came as the federation selected hosts for four championships covering 2028–2030: Prishtina for the 2028 U20 event, Caracas for the 2028 U18 event, Ahmedabad for the 2029 senior championships, and Moscow for the 2030 senior championships. World Athletics Secretary General José Quiñones called all the bids “wonderful” and expressed confidence in their successful staging. Exact dates and the venue for the 2030 event in Moscow have not yet been announced.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian media emphasized that Moscow received the hosting rights for the first time since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, noting that the move by World Athletics followed its earlier easing of restrictions on Russian athletes.
Background
World Athletics selected hosts for four championships in a single decision spanning 2028–2030. In 2024, the federation admitted Russian athletes to international competitions in all age categories without restrictions, while the International Olympic Committee withdrew its 2023 recommendations concerning the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions under a neutral status. As a result, international federations were left to decide independently whether to retain restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes.