In a momentous decision set to redefine the landscape of track and field, the World Athletics Council has approved an innovative proposal poised to transform the summer athletics season from 2025 onwards.

This ambitious plan is designed to craft a captivating season-long narrative culminating in the annual spectacle of the World Athletics Championships, ensuring a thrilling climax to the sporting calendar each year. The restructuring also seeks to harmonize the global athletics schedule, anchoring each season with the World Championships in a fixed mid-September slot.

World Athletics Breaks with Tradition

Alongside these extensive changes, the Council has approved a significant modification to the competition structure for laned events, which includes sprints and races up to 800 meters. Starting with the 2025 World Athletics Championships, all nine lanes—as opposed to the customary eight lanes—will be used in semifinals and finals. This modification represents a strategic enhancement in the race progression conditions, guaranteeing a more competitive and inclusive final, going beyond logistical reasons.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 05: (L-R) Reece Prescod of Great Britain, Justin Gatlin of the United States, Yohan Blake of Jamaica, Akani Simbine of South Africa, Christian Coleman of the United States, Usain Bolt of Jamaica, Jimmy Vicaut of France and Bingtian Su of China compete in the men’s 100m final during day two of the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championships London 2017 at The London Stadium on August 5, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 700043868 ORIG FILE ID: 826741938

Under the revamped system, the top three finishers from each semifinal will secure their place in the final, broadening the field to nine athletes or teams competing for glory.

This comprehensive transformation underscores World Athletics’ commitment to enhancing the sport’s attractiveness and accessibility, ensuring that each season builds anticipation and excitement leading up to its climactic event. By providing a more predictable calendar and intensifying competition, these modifications usher in a new era for athletics, promising fans and athletes a more immersive, competitive, and globally cohesive track and field season.