World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon says World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing will mark the beginning of an exciting three year athletics journey across China.
The World Athletics Indoor Championships scheduled to take place from 21 to 23 March at Nanjing ,will be the first of four series events hosted in Chinese cities between 2025 and 2027.
Guangzhou will host the World Athletics Relays in May 2025, while Yangzhou will welcome athletes for the World Athletics Road Running Championships in March 2027. Later that year, Beijing will stage the World Athletics Championships, solidifying China’s presence as a key destination for global athletics.
“Over the next three days, the stars of athletics will light up the Nanjing Cube in what I’m sure will be a dazzling showcase of world-class athletics,” Ridgeon stated as quoted in a press release by World Athletics News.
“Beyond the competition, I can speak for all of the World Athletics Family to say that it is great to be here in China. China is a key market for both World Athletics and the wider sport of athletics, with a passionate sporting fanbase that really values athletics excellence.
“From recent research, athletics is currently the ninth most followed sport in China, and it is rapidly growing in appeal. Our goal is to elevate athletics to one of China’s top five most followed sports by the 2027 World Championships in Beijing , so we have ambitious targets for the sport here in China,” he added.
Deputy Secretary-General of the organizing committee and Director of the Nanjing Municipal Sports Bureau, Dong Hao also emphasized on the advantage of hosting the event.
“This marks another major international sports event to be held in our city following the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games and 71 other international sports events. These events not only reflect high recognition of Nanjing’s comprehensive strengths but also serve as a significant driver for the city’s sports development,” he explained.
“We are confident that this event will not only deliver a visual feast for athletics enthusiasts worldwide but also further elevate Nanjing’s international profile.
“Besides, as one of China’s first nationally designated historical and cultural cities with a history of more than 3,100 years, and as an innovation hub home to 53 universities and nearly one million students, Nanjing is expected to take this opportunity to showcase its unique charm blending old and new to the world,” he added.
