World Athletics unveils bold innovation and growth agenda ahead of Tokyo Championships

The World Athletics Council has unveiled a sweeping “Innovation and Growth” agenda as it prepares for the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, scheduled for September 13–21, 2025.

The announcement came during the Council’s 238th press conference in Tokyo, where athletics leaders outlined a range of reforms aimed at modernizing the sport and expanding its global reach.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe set the tone for the new direction, stressing that the next two years would be critical in shaping the sport’s future.

“In two years’ time, we will meet again in Beijing, and many of us in this room, including myself, will end our term. That gives us two years to supercharge our sport so we can hand it over in better shape than we inherited it,” he told delegates.

Among the initiatives presented were strategies to harness technology for enhanced performance tracking and to experiment with fresh competition formats that could make athletics more appealing to wider audiences.

Coe also highlighted the importance of exposing athletes to new markets, ensuring that the sport resonates beyond traditional strongholds and taps into new regions with emerging talent and fan bases.

A significant part of the agenda focused on reforming the world rankings system. In contrast to the current format that awards points based on a combination of results and competition level, the Council has approved a more balanced approach that ensures athletes across different regions and competitions have a fairer opportunity to climb the rankings.

This, Coe emphasized, would be essential in leveling the playing field and fostering inclusivity within athletics.

Event innovation was also at the heart of the press conference. The Council approved enhancements such as a fixed running order of man-woman-man-woman for the 4x100m mixed relay, the introduction of a steeplechase mile, and the implementation of a takeoff zone for horizontal jumps.

New formats for indoor competitions are also in the pipeline, with a revamped 400m and an 800m breakpoint race set to debut at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships.

With Tokyo 25 expected to become one of the most sustainable sporting events ever hosted, these changes are not only about reshaping the future of athletics globally but also about unlocking new opportunities for athletes from countries like Kenya.

Better sponsorship deals, stronger funding structures, and exposure to innovative competition formats could significantly boost Kenyan athletes’ visibility and competitiveness on the world stage.

As the athletics world counts down to Tokyo, the Council’s agenda promises to redefine how the sport is experienced, both by athletes and fans.

It is a roadmap that blends tradition with forward-looking reforms, offering a path of innovation and growth that could leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.