The World Athletics has officially launched the World Athletics Ultimate Fan Challenge, a global competition designed to discover the sport’s most passionate supporter ahead of the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, scheduled to take place from 11–13 September 2026 in Budapest.
The new initiative aims to bring athletics fans closer to the sport than ever before, celebrating their knowledge, creativity and dedication. With a months-long competition culminating in a live finale inside the championship stadium, the challenge offers supporters from around the world the chance to prove they are the ultimate ambassador for track and field.
At the heart of the project is the World Athletics Ultimate Fan Challenge, a two-phase competition that rewards both deep knowledge of athletics and the passion that fans bring to the sport every day. The campaign’s digital platform is now live, kicking off the search for the ultimate supporter who will eventually be crowned “The Ultimate Fan” during the championship weekend in Budapest.
Three finalists will ultimately earn an unforgettable trip to Hungary, including travel, accommodation, event tickets and an exclusive VIP experience. One of the highlights of that experience will be the opportunity to meet sprint legend Usain Bolt, widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in the history of track and field.
Phase One: Global Quiz Challenge
The first phase of the competition focuses on testing fans’ knowledge of athletics through a global trivia contest.
Registration is already open, and the first quiz officially launches on 9 March. From that point, a new quiz will be released every two weeks until 4 June, giving fans multiple opportunities to prove their expertise on the sport’s biggest moments, legendary athletes and historic performances.
Each quiz features 10 questions, with participants earning points for every correct answer. Those points accumulate on a live global leaderboard, where fans can track their progress and see how they rank against competitors from around the world.
In addition to quiz results, fans can boost their points by inviting friends and family to join the challenge, helping to grow the global athletics community.
When the Quiz Challenge concludes on 4 June, the highest-ranked male and female participants on the leaderboard will be declared winners of phase one and will secure their place among the three finalists heading to Budapest.
Phase Two: “How I Live Athletics”
The second phase of the competition shifts from knowledge to creativity, celebrating the many ways fans express their love for athletics.
From 20 June to 23 July, participants will be invited to submit one original piece of content illustrating how athletics is part of their everyday lives. Entries can take various forms, including videos, photos, illustrations or digital graphics.
Submissions must align with one of five themes that highlight the diverse ways fans connect with the sport. These themes range from personal training and cheering at competitions to celebrating athletics within communities, cultures and local traditions.
Once submissions close, World Athletics will select one finalist from each category, showcasing the most creative and inspiring entries from around the world.
In August, fans will then be invited to vote publicly to determine which of the finalists will join the two Quiz Challenge winners in the grand finale.
Grand Finale in Budapest
The final stage of the competition will take place during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, where the three finalists will travel to Budapest for an unforgettable athletics experience.
Inside the stadium, the finalists will take part in a live in-stadium showdown to determine who will ultimately be crowned “The Ultimate Fan.”
The championship itself promises to be one of the most exciting additions to the athletics calendar. The event will bring together Olympic champions, world champions and Diamond League Final winners in a condensed format designed to crown the ultimate champions in each discipline.
Through the Ultimate Fan Challenge, World Athletics hopes to extend that same spirit of competition and excitement beyond the track and into the global fan community.
Registration for the competition is now open, giving athletics supporters everywhere the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, creativity and passion — and perhaps earn the title of the sport’s ultimate fan.