Stuart’s thoughts on the bid to bring the 2029 World Champs to London
The 2017 World Athletics Championships in London were rated as one of the greatest. After Moscow 2013 and Beijing 2015, with disappointing attendance, it was great to see the (2012 Olympic) London Stadium at full capacity every session. And who will ever forget Hero the Hedgehog, surely the best mascot ever? The London Diamond League has always had the largest attendance globally at any one-day track and field stadium event. Track and Field events sell out in the UK. The contrast between Eugene struggling to sell out, with its 18,000 capacity stadium for the evening sessions of the 2022 World Champs, while Birmingham was attracting more than 25,000 to the Commonwealth Games morning sessions later that summer, was stark.
Athletic Ventures – the joint venture between UK Athletics (UKA), Great Run Company, and London Marathon Events – brings together the UK Track and Field Governing body, plus the organizers of two highly successful events – the London Marathon, running successfully for 45 years, and the Great North Run, plus its regional cousins.
The previous World Athletics Championships in London in 2017 were by far the most successful in the sport’s history, with a sold-out stadium for every session. The 2012 Olympic athletics, too. Next year, Birmingham will host the European Championships and Glasgow the Commonwealth Games. Britain has a great track (and field!) record for hosting events. The powers would be mad not to accept the invitation back to London.
Looking further ahead—although I am not sure I will live to see it—what about the 2040 Olympics? This week, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has expressed interest in launching a bid for the 2040 Olympic Games as part of a broader vision to position the English capital as the world’s leading hub for sport.
This week, a report released by the mayor’s office highlights the financial and tourism benefits of major sporting events held in London last year. Khan said, “I love sports and see the benefit of watching them. But I thought we’d commission a report to work out the economic impact sport has.” Khan emphasised that his long-term goal has been to solidify London’s status as the global epicentre of sport.
