President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, has expressed strong support for Africa to host the World Athletics Championships in the future, describing the continent as one that has contributed immensely to the growth of athletics globally.
Coe made the remarks during the ongoing African Senior Athletics Championships at the University of Ghana Stadium, where Africa’s top athletes are competing.
Speaking during a media engagement, the World Athletics President revealed that discussions have already taken place at the African Council level regarding the possibility of hosting the global championship on the continent.
According to him, both the council and World Athletics share the ambition of seeing Africa stage the prestigious event, but stressed that the right planning, structures and partnerships must first be established to ensure a successful tournament.
“We spent a lot of time in the African Council meetings discussing the challenges around any part of the world staging major championships. My council has an ambition for Africa to stage a World Championships, and so do I,” he stated.
Coe explained that the dynamics of hosting international sporting events have changed, noting that international federations now work more closely with governments and local organising committees to successfully stage global competitions.
He added that Africa has already proven its ability to host major athletics events, having successfully staged competitions such as the World Relays, Cross Country Championships, and Under-18 and Under-20 tournaments.
“I can absolutely confirm there is an appetite for this fantastic continent, which has contributed so much to athletics, to be able to stage World Championships,” he added.
His comments come as Ghana hosts the 24th African Senior Athletics Championships for the first time at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon from May 12 to May 17, 2026.
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Story by Erica Odeenyin Odoom | univers.ug.edu.gh
