For nine days in August, the world’s top track and field athletes converged on Doha for one of the most exciting events of the sporting calendar. Known as the World Athletics Championship, the event is a 49-event bonanza that features 24 events for men and women, plus mixed-gender relays. The championships are so jam-packed that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to wrap your head around the massive event.
The first official competition took place in 1976, but the event has only been held biennially since 1991. It is held in odd-numbered years to avoid conflicts with the Olympics, which occur on a quadrennial cycle in even-numbered years.
Traditionally, the athletics event has offered a strong preview of what to expect at the Summer Olympic Games. This year was no exception, with a host of impressive performances. Sprints, in particular, showcased athletes’ raw speed and explosive power. British athletes Sifan Hassan and Zharnel Hughes both won bronze medals in the 100m, while Keely Hodgkinson and Ben Pattison claimed silver and bronze respectively in the middle distance events.
The World Championships are organized by World Athletics (formerly the IAAF), an international organization of national and regional track-and-field federations representing more than 200 countries and territories. The main aims of the organization are to establish friendly cooperation among members, eliminate hindrances to participation in international meets on racial, religious or political grounds, compile rules and regulations governing competition, and promote track-and-field sport. It is funded by membership fees, publication sales, and donations from private individuals and organizations.
