238th-World-Athletics-Council-press-conference-Tuesday-9th-September-2025

Name: 238th-World-Athletics-Council-press-conference-Tuesday-9th-September-2025
Uploaded: 2025-09-09T11:24:02+00:00
Duration: 24 min 31 s
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Iran Palestine

2 months ago

238th-World-Athletics-Council-press-conference-Tuesday-9th-September-2025
238th World Athletics Council Press Conference – Tuesday, 9th September 2025 🏆🌍

Get the latest updates, key announcements, and important decisions from the World Athletics Council. From upcoming championships, athlete programs, to global athletics developments – everything you need to know is here.

Stay tuned for official statements, future plans, and the roadmap for athletics worldwide. ⚡🏃‍♂️
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00:00Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining us. We've just finished three days of executive board and council meetings here in Tokyo. World Athletics has continued to push forward its innovation and growth agenda. The details are all outlined in a press release that we issued about 15 minutes ago.

00:20So I will now pass on the floor to the World Athletics president, Sebastian Coe, who will run you through a few of what's happened and updates on the last few days. We'll then open the floor to questions. Seb, go ahead.

00:32Maggie, thank you. And good evening, everyone. And thank you for joining us. I am also acutely conscious some of you may be in anti-social time zone. So thank you also for making the effort.

00:48But as Maggie said, we've just completed three very productive days here in Tokyo, where the executive board and the World Athletics Council have made a number of decisions.

01:01And these decisions have really ostensibly been focused on growth, innovation and prioritization.

01:09And look, in simple terms, they're all aimed at future proofing our sport for years to come and a fresh generation of athletes.

01:19These themes will continue and be central to the convention and the Congress here again in Tokyo, scheduled for the 11th and 12th of September.

01:33And this is an exciting time for World Athletics. We're a high performing organization on a growth trajectory.

01:42That's not a wish or a vision. It is actually reality. And in order to maintain that trajectory, we need to continue to build scalable systems and strategies to sustain that growth far into the future.

01:58It's why we have a four year business strategy and an eight year world plan and to all to the purpose of ensuring that we focus on our short term and also our long term goals.

02:12At the end of 25 will mark the halfway point for the business strategy, which we have called pioneering change.

02:21And that's exactly what we're doing. So laying the foundation for this change and growth are five really important and core components.

02:34Obviously, obviously, overriding almost everything, because our ability to do this is predicated on our financial position, which I have to say is strong.

02:45Our revenues have increased some 38 percent since 2018, clearly a strong brand identity that is closely linked to trust and integrity.

03:01A people strategy, a people strategy, having the right people in place with the mindset and the resilience to see this growth trajectory through excellent communications,

03:13communicating liberally. I hope that's not a particularly complex concept for those of you here with us tonight, but also communicating liberally through good and bad times.

03:24And of course, transparency, all of which I'm delighted to say, as the world athletics now has our challenge really isn't a lack of ambition.

03:35It never really has been. It's about how we adapt to make the kind of decisions that lead to meaningful and sustainable growth.

03:44And it's a growth journey that will only speed up, particularly over the next two years.

03:51Illustrating this strategy is probably best exemplified by the work that we have done around the World Athletics Ultimate Championship that will be launched in Budapest in 2026, next year.

04:06And really has been developed to to really tap into two really important concepts.

04:14The first is that we ensure now that every athletic season culminates with a major global championship.

04:21That is our opportunity over the competitive year to guarantee a billion eyeballs on our sport and a championship that has real meaning for our partners,

04:34as our stakeholders in this case, meaning for our fans, obviously our athletes, our media and our broadcasters.

04:42We're also continuing to cement our place as leaders in international sport and particularly in thought leadership,

04:51never shying away from making the sometimes tough but necessary decisions for the well-being and integrity of our sport.

05:01On this theme, the World Athletics Council has updated on the progress regarding our SRY testing and those regulations for the eligibility in the female category or female athlete category testing.

05:18Fact, as we refer to it.

05:20Over 95% of testing is now complete with the remainder of tests, the French team, the Norwegian team and some athletes based in France being done here in Tokyo ahead of competition starting later this week.

05:35I have to say this has been a successful whole sport response to a principle that we all fundamentally believe in, which is to protect, preserve and promote the female category.

05:50I'd like to really place on record my thanks to our member federations and our area associations and particularly our athletes for all their hard work, their cooperation and really just their ongoing support for this process.

06:08We will now gather feedback from the World Athletics Championships, which is a great platform for us to be able to do that to determine the testing processes and priorities for 2026 onwards.

06:23Other Council news, a number of competition decisions were made, always with the aim of the ambition of polishing and refining our events, changes to the world ranking system to make sure the system was more balanced between the various levels of competition,

06:45the introduction, the introduction, the introduction of a fixed running order of man, woman, man, woman for the four by 100 meter mixed relay and to use this format starting in 2026 for the world relays in Gaborone in Botswana.

07:01A new race format for the indoor 400 meters.

07:04We'll see the number of athletes per heat reduced from four from six to four, leaving lanes one and two empty.

07:11This is really just this is really in response to their inherent disadvantage on tight indoor curves.

07:20The main goal is again clear.

07:22It's to increase participation, ensure fair racing and to enhance the athlete and of course the spectator experience.

07:31A new break point for the indoor 800 meters gives athletes more time and space to spread out, providing a safer racing environment.

07:41They will use the same break point as the 400 meter athletes, which of course is located around the entrance to the home straight, roughly 165 meters from the start.

07:53Finally, the qualification systems were approved for our World Athletics Indoor Championships, our World Athletics Relays and our World Athletics Under 20 Championships in Oregon in August of 26.

08:07More details will follow and update dates will be included in the press release, which I understand Maggie has now just gone to press.

08:17So again, thank you very much for joining us.

08:20And I'm, of course, very happy to take any questions that you might have.

08:27Back to you, Maggie.

08:28Thanks, Seb.

08:30We can now open the floor to questions.

08:32Please use the raise hand function in the Zoom chat.

08:35If you'd like to ask a question, let us know your name and outlet and we'll get to as many of you as we can.

08:44Tracy, go ahead.

08:45We can start with you.

08:50Tracy, you're on mute.

08:51Sorry about that.

08:54Tracy Holmes from the Sports Ambassador podcast in Australia.

08:58My question is about the women's classification.

09:03And I'm just wondering if you've heard back from any athletes about concerns over privacy, because I know this is one of the issues they're facing in world boxing at the moment.

09:12And what commitments you have given to those medical records and then being kept private in any instance.

09:22I'm actually, Tracy, thanks.

09:25And yeah, Tracy, thank you.

09:28And rarely have I experienced you being on mute.

09:32But this is there's always a first for everything.

09:35Look, the I'm actually comforted that thus far we haven't.

09:42And I think it's because of the very nature and clarity around the testing and the processes.

09:49Our medical delegate is the only one that will see the test.

09:55If there is anything to be followed up on, they will follow it up directly with the athlete.

10:01We're not testing for anything other than the eligibility or otherwise of that athlete.

10:10There's no DNA testing.

10:12There's no genetic testing.

10:14That is simply what we're looking for.

10:17It's a one off test.

10:18And once that has been done, that's it.

10:20And any as and when the information that we glean is deemed useful and absorbed, it is then destroyed.

10:34So I don't think we could.

10:36We've followed this very, very closely.

10:39We've done this to the highest and accepted standards of international medical practice.

10:47And look, I think we're in pretty good shape.

10:51But of course, if athletes individually had any concerns, we would want to reassure them

11:00that we've taken a lot of effort to make sure that those security issues are absolutely followed through.

11:11Thank you, Tracy.

11:12Wakako Yuki.

11:18I'm mute.

11:20Thank you indeed for this opportunity.

11:21Just a quick follow-up to Tracy.

11:25I suppose I have one other question, if I may.

11:29In a sense, of course, if you introduce new system, always there is learning things that you would be able to come up with.

11:42And what are the positive and negative that you've learned from introducing this SRI test or FACE, you would put it?

11:49And if you would be asked to give advice to, for instance, other entities such as the IOC, which just announced creating working groups on this theme as well,

12:07what are the things that you might be able to give?

12:10Another one, if I may, you've been saying that this World Championships is one of the things that Tokyo Games during the COVID-19

12:23couldn't have spectators and athletes couldn't have that experience neither.

12:30What are the things that you would like to give to the message to Japanese citizens and fans now that indeed the world is getting together again in Tokyo?

12:46Thank you very much.

12:47Let me take your last point first, because we are here for a championships and that's really where our priority sits.

12:56Look, my message is one of an overwhelming thank you.

13:00As you know, we were the first international federation to come to Tokyo once the games or the delay to the games was announced.

13:09We felt it was very, very important.

13:11And the message on that occasion was we take your concerns very seriously.

13:16Other sporting organizations, I think, were a little aloof about the recognizing some of the challenges at community level.

13:25Both myself and our CEO, John Ridgen, made that trip.

13:30And in 2021, at the time of the games, I also made the commitment to Governor Koike that we would, when possible,

13:44obviously with the agreement of the council and our evaluation teams, love to be in that stadium.

13:51It was a fabulous stadium.

13:53It is a fabulous stadium.

13:55It was sadly denied passionate, informed fans at the time of the games.

14:03And so all I can say is it's a huge thank you to the resilience of the people, the political leadership, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and all the municipal authorities that have been so such a part of our ability to deliver and my council helping deliver on that commitment.

14:27Let me go back to your first point, positives and negatives, look, I don't tend to look at it in those terms, if I'm being blunt here.

14:39You know, we followed through on a very, very clear principle that, and it's not, this is not a new principle.

14:48The decision to introduce SRY testing or at the time we were still in that consultation phase was made back in March in Nanjing at the time of the World Indoor Championships.

15:05And you have all heard me talking about the sacrosanct nature of women's sport and the preservation of that concept.

15:15So for us, I suppose if there is a very strong positive, it is that everybody has worked tirelessly to help us do this.

15:24We've had very little discussion about why we're doing it other than an absolute recognition that it is an important staging post in that commitment to women's sport.

15:39I'm not here to give advice to other international federations or even the International Olympic Committee, although the working group that is being set up by the new president, I'm delighted that I've had input into.

16:00And World Athletics will be represented around that table and that comforts me because we have led the way on most, well, pretty much all these issues.

16:14And that's a good place to be.

16:16So look, we will continue to do this.

16:19The World Championships is a very, very good platform for us to understand more about what the future of this testing looks like, because although it's a one-off test, we do have new generations of athletes coming through.

16:36So look, as we always do in everything we do, we will sit and reflect on what we've learned in the last few weeks and deliver over the coming years.

16:52Thank you, Wakako.

16:53Hiroki Toda, next, please.

16:59Hi, President.

17:00Thank you for this opportunity.

17:02I hope you are enjoying your time in Tokyo.

17:05My question is about the calendar for the road events.

17:09So during the council, was there any discussion or maybe consultation about moving marathons or racewalk to other times of the year or maybe a specific city?

17:23And if so, what will be the hurdles to move those events from current World Championships?

17:33Look, I don't think it's any great secret.

17:35We do have some heat challenges in Tokyo.

17:38We had them actually at the time of the Games in 2021.

17:43I'm very proud to be able to say with full justification that we have the most accomplished and the most capable health and science team in any international sport.

17:56That shouldn't come as a surprise because we have been dealing with some of these challenges for a long time.

18:07The executive board did discuss some of these issues, but more generically around the risk register going forward.

18:19Some of you have heard me talk about the challenges of climate change.

18:23These are not transient.

18:24They're here to stay.

18:25Governments have not stepped up to the plate.

18:28And sport is going to have to take some unilateral judgments and decisions here.

18:35And we have reflected in the past if we are committed to athlete welfare, then we should probably be openly committed to that.

18:47And I cannot see that collectively international sport isn't going to sooner rather than later, I hope, revisit collectively what the global calendar looks like.

19:00Because if we are committed to athlete welfare, then it is inevitable that we are going to have to stage some of our endurance of based events, maybe at times of the year that are going to give optimum chances for the athletes and not leave them in a health or a performance deficit.

19:22So, insofar as these are ongoing judgments, but what I can say is that we have the right people in place in Tokyo and the right discussions taking place if we had to make any adjustments to the timetable in advance of those scheduled events because of these conditions.

19:45Sorry, just to follow up, so is there any specific timeline or maybe plan that you might discuss this further, like maybe next year or two years after?

20:01No, these are ongoing discussions.

20:03And look, they're multifaceted because it's not just about moving one piece of the jigsaw to another part of the year.

20:12You know, we are a 12-month-of-the-year sport.

20:16We are always looking to extend our season.

20:19We have two shorter seasons, particularly around track.

20:22So there may be, within the challenge, there may be some opportunities to extend the length of our season, particularly into other hemispheres and other climbs at different times of the year.

20:36Thank you, Hiroki.

20:37Johannes, next, please.

20:42Good evening.

20:45Johannes Knuth from Süddeutsche Zeitung Munich.

20:48One question.

20:48I'm sorry, I have to follow up on the gene testing yet again.

20:52Sukho, you have mentioned that world athletics has been very generous in terms of testing national federations even past the September 1st deadline when there were problems.

21:02However, there have also been, when you look at world boxing, there have been suggestions that certain, or I mean, we're well aware that certain national countries have laws that are in conflict with a work athletics policy.

21:17You're able to facilitate that for now.

21:22But I'm just wondering, for future, for instance, when France or other countries which have stricter regulations, if they want to host world athletics events, is there any, do you see any problem with that?

21:38Could there be conflicts of interest or, I mean, just conflicts with their national law when they want to host such world athletics events?

21:45Or do you think that it can be worked out as well?

21:49No, we work our way through these things.

21:51And look, we are always cognizant of national law.

21:57And we work within that framework.

21:59We work within that framework around safeguarding.

22:01We work within that framework, of course, around our anti-doping rules and regulations.

22:06And I see no difference here.

22:08And, yeah, some nations will have national laws in place.

22:16But actually, on this occasion where they have, we've actually managed to work our way around those in a sensible and constructive way, particularly with the member federation.

22:25So, you know, the very fact that we, I'm able pretty much to say to you that 95% of our testing has already been done within touching distance of a championship tells me that these are workable situations.

22:39But look, you know, yeah, there will always be challenges.

22:43But I guess, you know, we'd all be bedridden if we didn't want to accept some of them.

22:50Thanks, Johannes.

22:52Andrew McCurdy, please.

22:55Andrew, I'm not sure if you can hear us.

23:04You're on mute.

23:14Andrew, we can't hear you.

23:16That concludes the first round of questions.

23:19Does anybody have any follow-up questions?

23:25It doesn't appear so.

23:29So, thank you.

23:31For that said, we now have two days of convention and Congress on 11th and 12th September, where the central themes of innovation, it will still be central.

23:42If you'd like to follow the Congress, please follow the instructions at the bottom of today's press release for the Council.

23:48It tells you where to write to apply to be able to follow the Congress.

23:53Thank you very much, everyone, and look forward to seeing you in a few days.

23:57Maggie, thank you.

23:58Thank you again for making the effort to join us.

24:01And I, too, look forward to seeing you over the course of the next few days.

24:06Enjoy what is left of your day, large amounts or small amounts.