World Athletics has released a list of events that will feature in the first edition of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
The new event, which is scheduled to be staged at Budapest National Athletics Centre in Hungary from 11-13 September 2026, will have 28 disciplines with 26 of them being individual ones.
A quick look at the list, which has not been received well by many athletics fans, shows that countries that have dominated long distance races like Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda will find it hard to shine in Budapest.
The organizers of the competition have given field events and short distance races a priority and excluded middle and long distance races.
ALSO READ: SportPesa Mega Jackpot gets to over 391 million
Some of the major races that will not be on offer in the championship include the 3000m steeplechase, 10000m and marathon.
The exclusion of these disciplines means East Africans will not watch their talented runners like the Kenyan duo of Faith Cherotich and Amos Serem, Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai and Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma shine at the global stage.
In addition, multiple world record holder Beatrice Chebet will not have a chance to battle it out with other top stars in the 10000m race.
At the end of the day, the medals that Kenya is likely to win at the championship will reduce significantly.
ALSO READ: Nahashon to Nekesa: Remembering Kenyan footballers who have ever been shortlisted for CAF Awards
However, despite the outcry from stakeholders, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has defended the move, describing it as a radical one.
“This new global event will be a game-changer for our sport and for our athletes.
We want to bring our fans athletics like they have never seen it before – with the best of the best athletes in our sport competing head-to-head in a passion fueled, high octane, festival of sport, with sound, light and innovation,” he was quoted by the world governing body.
Coe also announced that HBS and Tata Communications will broadcast the event that will see winners in each category receive $150,000 (approximately Ksh 19,420,320 as per the current exchange rate).
ALSO READ: Mashemeji Derby cancelled due to lack of venue
2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship Events
Pole vault, 100m, High Jump, 200m, Long Jump, 400m, Triple Jump (W), Hammer (M), 5000m, Javelin, 1500m, 800m, 400m hurdles, Mixed 4X400m, Mixed 4X100m, 100m/110m hurdles
Excluded Disciplines
Hammer (W), 10000m, Triple Jump (M), Shot Put, Discus, 3000m Steeplechase