World Athletics launches a championship for $10 million: how athletics will change

Athletics is preparing for a major transformation. The World Athletics Ultimate Championship promises to combine sport, entertainment, and serious money - with a record prize pool of 10 million dollars and a dynamic format created primarily for fans.

“During the Olympics, athletes are in the spotlight, and then it seems they disappear. But that's not true. They are always around - and our task is to make them visible,” noted American entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian.

The co-founder of Reddit and one of the special guests at the “one year to go” event for the championship spoke at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The tournament will take place from September 11 to 13, 2026, in Budapest.

Ohanian, who is actively investing in the development of women's sports, already has experience in athletics - in 2024, he financed Athlos, a women's athletics tournament in New York that generated significant interest. “High prizes motivate athletes and attract viewers’ attention,” he explained, supporting the philosophy of the new championship.

The World Athletics Ultimate Championship is a new form of athletics that promises exciting competitions, big wins, and substantial prize money. Investments in sports and an innovative approach to organizing the championship make it attractive for both viewers and athletes, raising the standards of athletics to a new level.