The British government will support a bid to bring the World Athletics Championships back to London in 2029, officials revealed on Saturday.
The announcement comes just hours before the start of Diamond League’s London meet on the grounds of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and inside London Stadium — site of the 2017 championships and 2021 Olympics.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration will have to pledge the bulk of a $60 million bid by 2028, with London mayor Sadiq Khan already committing to $13 million for the overall submission.
“Bringing the World Athletics Championships to the UK would be moment of great national pride, building on our global reputation for hosting memorable sporting events that showcase the very best talent,” Starmer said in a statement released on Saturday. “Hosting these championships would not only unlock opportunities for UK athletes but it would inspire the next generation to get involved and pursue their ambitions.”
In June, more than 100 prominent athletes — past and present — representing the United Kingdom made a public plea to the government in a letter explaining why a London bid was critical.
Mo Farah, Keely Hodgkinson, Josh Kerr, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Dina Asher-Smith were among the athletes listed in the letter.
“We’ve stood on podiums with pride but there is nothing like competing in front of a home crowd,” the letter read. “For many athletes, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For our country, it’s an opportunity we must not let pass us by.”
There was initially no indicator that the British government would consider the bid, after a well-publicized effort to land the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
But the benefit of another world championship in London could infuse around $550 million in economic impact to the immediate and surrounding region — a point Starmer noted on Saturday.
“The event would provide a boost for UK businesses and support jobs as well as bring our communities together. I’m delighted to support the bid,” he added in his statement.
