The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship is set to begin, featuring a condensed three-night schedule designed for maximum excitement and engagement. The event boasts the richest prize pot in the history of track and field, with a total of $10 million available to competitors. Winners of individual events will each receive $150,000, a sum more than double that offered at the previous year's World Championships. Runners-up will earn $75,000, and those finishing in third place will receive $40,000.
The championship is specifically curated for reigning Olympic, world, and Diamond League champions, alongside athletes who have qualified through world rankings. However, a select number of prominent athletes who did not meet qualification criteria have been granted exceptional invitations. Among them are Great Britain's Josh Kerr and his Norwegian rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who are set to compete in the men's 1500m.
Event Structure and Exclusions
The Ultimate Championship will feature a total of 28 finals. All field events will be contested as straight finals, as will the 1500m and 5,000m races. Shorter distance events, such as the 800m, will include semi-finals.
The selection of disciplines for the championship was based on World Athletics' analysis of event popularity and viewer engagement data, including physiological responses like sweat rate and pulse. Consequently, some long-distance events, including the 3,000m steeplechase and 10,000m, as well as field events like the shot put and discus, have been excluded from the competition schedule.