Beijing wins bid to host 2027 World Athletics Championships

The World Athletics Council has confirmed that Beijing will be hosting the World Athletics Championships in 2027. This decision marks a significant return for the athletics world to Beijing, nearly two decades after the city's successful orchestration of the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Winter Games.

The World Athletics Council came to the decision of Beijing hosting the World Athletics Championships during its 234th meeting in Glasgow.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe highlighted Beijing's successful bid, noting the city's previous experience in hosting the 15th edition of the championships and emphasizing China's position as a major sports market.

“Congratulations to Beijing on their successful bid to host the World Athletics Championships in 2027, 12 years after our athletes lit up the National Stadium for the 15th edition of our global showpiece. China was the top performer for Wanda Diamond League broadcast consumption in 2023 with a cumulative audience of 368.9 million,” said Coe.

“With the announcement of China as our next host, our last four World Athletics Championships have now been awarded to the world’s four largest economies; the USA, the EU, Japan and China,” Coe added.

Beijing's sports officials have expressed gratitude for the trust placed in them and are committed to preparing meticulously for the event. They aim to leverage the city's unique blend of ancient charm and modern dynamism to offer an unforgettable experience to athletes and fans alike.

World Athletics Council Member and Vice President of the Chinese Athletics Association, Wang Nan, thanked the World Athletics Council for trusting China with the responsibility of hosting the World Championships, while promising to hold a high-quality event.

“Thank you to World Athletics for the recognition and trust in China and Beijing. The CAA will work together with the Beijing organising committee to make every effort to prepare for the championships, ensure that the championships will be held to the highest quality standard, and strive to present a wonderful World Athletics Championships to make more contributions to the development of athletics across the world,” said Wang.

Moreover, the decision reaffirms Beijing's unique status as the first city to have hosted both the summer and Winter Olympics, adding another feather to its cap with the upcoming World Athletics Championships.

China will also be hosting the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Nanjing in 2025. They will also be hosting the two Diamond League 2024 meets in Xiamen and Shanghai, in April.