World Athletics Championships: UK Throws Weight Behind London’s 2029 Bid
The UK government has formally backed a major push to bring the World Athletics Championships back to London in 2029, reigniting excitement around the capital’s Olympic legacy.
In a high-profile announcement on Saturday, ministers confirmed their support for the bid, which would see the prestigious event return to the iconic London Stadium—home of the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2017 World Championships.
The same venue, nestled in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, is set to once again take centre stage—if the bid succeeds.
Alongside the main bid, the UK is also throwing its support behind a proposal to host the 2029 World Para Athletics Championships.
Both bids are now contingent on partner funding being finalised, though the government has pledged “significant funding” should everything align.
“Subject to funding from partners being confirmed, the government has agreed to provide significant funding for both bids, reflecting the UK’s ambition to once again bring the world’s greatest athletes to UK shores,” the official statement read.
The announcement coincided with London hosting a packed Diamond League meet—an event often seen as a curtain-raiser to bigger global competitions.
With Tokyo set to host the 2025 World Championships, and Beijing lined up for 2027, Britain has its sights firmly set on 2029.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed personal enthusiasm for the bid. “The event would provide a boost for UK businesses and support jobs as well as bring our communities together,” he said. “I’m delighted to support the bid.”
This latest move signals a broader strategy by the UK government to re-establish the country as a leading global host of world-class sport. With the legacy of London 2012 still resonant, hosting another global athletics showcase could reaffirm the capital’s place on the sporting map.
For now, it’s a waiting game. But there’s no mistaking the message: Britain wants the world’s best athletes back on home soil.
