To bring the 2029 World Athletics Championships to the UK, we need government backing now
4 min read
The appetite is proven - but we need government backing to bring the World Athletics Championship to London in 2029
Tickets for July’s London Diamond League – athletics’ equivalent of the Fifa World Cup – have sold out. The 60,000 people watching will be the biggest crowd for a one-day athletics meeting in the world. It follows the success of this year’s London Marathon, which became the largest in history with over 56,000 finishers, including many parliamentarians, and a world record-breaking demand from more than 1.1 million people for next year. The appetite for athletics is at record levels.
That’s why I, along with our track and field superstars past and present, am working hard to support London’s bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships – and I’m asking MPs to do the same.
As Dame Denise Lewis, head of UK Athletics, said: “Global sporting events generate far more than medals – they ignite economies, inspire communities and shine a light on everything we can offer as a nation.”
I regularly hear fond memories of great athletic moments and how they have inspired a lifelong interest – and often participation – in athletics. But it is more than that. I want to focus on the economic value, political alignment and public impact of a successful bid.
Public finances are under scrutiny: every investment from the government must deliver demonstrable value. That’s exactly why this bid makes sense. Although we need £45m in public support, we will unlock a projected £400m in combined economic and social impact from the event. The return on investment is significant and will be felt in every constituency the length and breadth of the country. Athletic Ventures, the innovative new delivery organisation, comprises UK Athletics, the Great Run Company and London Marathon Events. Together, we are creating a commercially agile, community-focused and legacy-driven approach – and it’s already working.
However, the moment to act is now. If the UK is to proceed with a formal expression of interest by World Athletics’ September deadline, we need that commitment in place within weeks – not months. We know there are tough times ahead but sport, and in our case athletics, provides a safe, happier space for growth.
This isn’t just about London. Athletics is a national asset. It is one of the most accessible and widely participated-in sports in the UK, embedded in schools and local clubs across the country. It cuts across all demographics and regions – urban and rural, north and south – and it reflects the full diversity of Britain today. As a result of our phenomenal success at the 2024 Paris Olympics we have seen a boom in running, fuelled by inspiring stories from elite athletes, and also from other people who use it as a way of coping with the everyday stresses of life.
Athletics offers a genuine model of inclusion. It is one of the few sports where the faces on the start line reflect the faces of the nation. In a time where cohesion and connection are more important than ever, this is something we should be building on. Our bid is a safe, strategic and popular investment. The 2017 World Athletics Championships in London were the most successful in history, with every session sold out and widespread acclaim. Demand is proven. Delivery is proven. And now, with Athletic Ventures, the commercial model is proven too.
This is also about long-term positioning. If the UK is serious about pursuing a 2040 Olympic and Paralympic bid, then a home World Athletics Championships in 2029 would serve as the clearest test and showcase for International Olympic Committee attention. Athletics remains the Olympic and Paralympic Games’ flagship sport – and the most accurate barometer of national and international readiness.
This isn’t a blank cheque. It’s a targeted investment with clear public return – one that aligns with national priorities around economic growth, removing barriers, and improving public health. It’s an opportunity for the UK to step forward confidently, show global leadership and deliver an event that works for everyone.
We’ve done it before. And with your support – at this crucial moment – we can do it again.
