UK Athletics plan bid for 2029 World Championships as chiefs attempt to capitalise on the ‘Keely Hodgkinson impact’

The UK is set to file a formal expression of interest in staging the 2029 World Athletics Championships as the country looks to secure another major sports event this decade.

The women’s rugby union World Cup is being held in England later this year, before next summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the men’s and women’s Tour de France races will both start in Britain in 2027, while the UK and Ireland are hosting the European Football Championship in 2028.

Now UK Athletics want to bring another major competition to this country and, while a feasibility study is ongoing, their bid for the 2029 World Championships is set to be confirmed in the summer.

‘We are absolutely wanting to do a really good bid for that, it would be great to get,’ admitted UK Athletics chief executive Jack Buckner.

‘The next stage is expressions of interest and that is this summer. We have to submit the expression around June time.

Keely Hodgkinson became a household name overnight when she won 800m Olympic gold

London hosted the 2017 World Athletics Championship and may be UK Athletics’ choice again

Great Britain and Northern Ireland finished sixth in medal table at the 2017 Worlds in London

‘We need to get our bid to a good stage for that, then a formal process will take place and that will conclude in September 2026 in Budapest. That is when the decision is made.

‘It will be competitive. There will be other big European nations wanting to host it. But our initial thinking is really positive.’

The UK — which is also set to face competition from India and Kenya — last hosted the World Championships in London in 2017 and the capital would be the most likely host city again.

Buckner believes a successful bid would be a huge boost for athletics in this country and help capitalise on the ‘Keely Hodgkinson effect’, with the Olympic 800m gold medallist having already increased the popularity of track and field in the UK.

‘That is what we would like,’ said Buckner when asked about making the most of the Hodgkinson bounce. ‘You look at some of the athletes coming through and their profiles and what that (a successful bid) could do.

‘Each year we want to present a better financial picture and a better programme of events to keep building this generation of athletes.

‘Our finances are now in much, much better shape, so we won’t be going bankrupt. Our financial future is not going to be dependent on a single event.

‘But a World Championships would massively accelerate all of that. That would be absolutely brilliant.’