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Record Prize Pot of $10m at Inaugural Ultimate Championship
Developing
In Short: The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, opening in Budapest, offers a record $10m prize pot, more than doubling the amount given at last year's World Championships.
The 'best of the best' in athletics are set to compete in the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, which kicks off in Budapest this weekend, according to Al Jazeera.
With a prize pot of $10m, the event promises to be a significant milestone, more than doubling the $70,000 awarded at last year's World Championships in Tokyo, and tripling the amount given to Olympic champions in Paris.
The Ultimate Championship features Olympic and World Championship gold medallists, Diamond League winners, and the best performers of 2026 based on the World Rankings qualification system, as detailed in Al Jazeera's guide to the meet.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe hopes the biennial format will serve as an 'incubator for change' and shape the future of the sport's established World Championships, while entertainment will be provided by pole vault star Oksana Chusovitina performing the official song and American sprinter Ronnie Lyles hosting the event.
What's still developing
- The Ultimate Champion also walks away with global “bragging rights”, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said before the event as he explained its significance to the sport.
- Many return to the stomping ground in the Hungarian capital after successes at the 2023 World Championships, while others have racked up global titles after breakout performances throughout the year.
- The sport’s global governing body chose 2026 to launch the event in between the World Championships, and, in Olympic years, use it to round out a highly competitive season.
- You may be thinking: 'Haven't we been here before?' Last year, Michael Johnson's inaugural Grand Slam Track league attempted to maintain focus on the sport following Paris 2024 while offering lucrative prize money, but ended after encountering serious financial issues.
- So, how does the Ultimate Championship work, what do the athletes think, and is it needed?
- For many top British athletes, a 2026 season centred around a Commonwealth Games and European Championship on home soil would probably have finished at the Diamond League Final.
Sources
- Al Jazeeralink