World Athletics has unveiled plans to launch a standalone marathon world championships from 2030, with the event breaking away from the biennial wider World Athletics Championships.
The marathon will remain part of the programme at the wider world championships for the 2027 and 2029 editions but will then move to its own separate event.
The men’s and women’s marathon world titles will be contested in alternating years, meaning the titles will be decided every two years as they are under the current system.
Athens in Greece is the frontrunner to host the inaugural separate marathon world championships, while London could be the last city to host it as part of the wider world championships if it wins its bid for 2029. Beijing will host the 2027 edition.
The World Athletics Road Running Championships will continue in their current form as a separate annual event.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said: “We are delighted to be exploring the possibility of a standalone World Marathon Championships with Athens – the place where this iconic discipline was born.
“Few events in sport carry the weight and resonance of the marathon; it is both a test of the very highest performance and a celebration of mass participation.
“This is an opportunity to create a dedicated global celebration of marathon running, held in a setting that honours its heritage while shaping a modern championship that reflects the scale and spirit of the global running community.”
In recent years concerns have grown over athletes’ safety during marathon world championship races, with the event generally held in high summer, with soaring temperatures potentially putting runners’ health at risk.
A move to separate the marathon event from the wider world championships could allow it to be held in more favourable conditions, or at cooler times of year.
