The 53rd Congress of World Athletics has concluded following the adoption of a series of important initiatives designed to accelerate the growth of the sport through the next decade.
Today the Congress approved the World Plan 2022-2030 which sets clear objectives against World Athletics’ vision for the sport. It builds on the four-year strategic plan and the four pillars of “more participation, more people, more fans, and more partners”.
Crucially, the World Plan includes a renewed Kids’ Athletics development programme which will be rolled out around the world over the coming months.
The Congress also received the first report of the Human Rights Working Group, which includes six recommendations for World Athletics to follow to ensure that human rights are protected and respected in the sport.
In his opening address, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe also announced a ground-breaking media rights agreement with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), covering Europe and Africa and running from 2024 to 2029.
In conclusion, Coe thanked the Member Federations for their attendance and engagement in the two-day virtual Congress.
“This Congress has set the direction of our sport for the next eight years, with the approval of the World Plan,” Coe said. “This is a practical and measurable guide that all of us will be able to plan and deliver against.
“We have made good progress since the last Congress in 2019, despite the pandemic, and the next four years offer unprecedented opportunities with athletics taking centre stage in the middle of each year, through a sequence of World Athletics Championships and Olympic Games, so we need to build on that momentum as a sport.”