World Athletics Plans $10M Ultimate Team Championship Budapest 2026

Sebastian Coe, with two years remaining as World Athletics president, is focused on reinvigorating the sport through upcoming events, including the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Team Championship in September 2026 in Budapest. Coe, undeterred by his third-place finish in the International Olympic Committee presidential election, emphasizes moving forward and bringing dynamism back to athletics. The 2025 World Championships in Tokyo will mark a significant moment as spectators return for the first time since the Covid-delayed 2020 Olympics. The Ultimate Team Championship aims to be a TV-friendly event designed to unlock new audiences by featuring athletes competing individually and for their national teams in national kits. Coe contrasts this initiative with Michael Johnson's Grand Slam series, which failed to gain traction, expressing a willingness to learn from both successes and failures in athletics events. Overall, Coe seeks to ensure that athletics remains 'big and punchy' on the global sports stage.