Beijing, February 8: After a 12-year hiatus, Beijing will once again host the World Athletics Championships in 2027. Lord Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics, recently expressed his expectations for a “full house” during an interview with Chinese media at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
The championships are scheduled to take place from September 11 to 19, 2027. This event will make Beijing the first city in China to host this prestigious competition twice.
Sebastian Coe, who served as the chairman of the London Olympic organizing committee in 2012, has a special connection with China. He assumed the presidency of World Athletics in Beijing in 2015 and will retire from this position in the same city in 2027.
Recalling his experiences, Coe mentioned that he was personally present at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as well as the athletics events. The London Olympics followed four years later, allowing him to closely collaborate with the Beijing Olympic organizing committee, which enhanced his understanding of the event planning process.
The 2015 World Athletics Championships held at the National Stadium, known as the “Bird’s Nest,” left a lasting impression on Coe. He praised Beijing’s remarkable organizational capabilities, highlighting the excellence of the Bird’s Nest stadium and the enthusiasm and dedication of the volunteers.
In 2027, this premier global athletics competition will return to Beijing, and Coe’s expectations and confidence are higher than ever. He noted that every time an event is held in China, whether it was last year’s Nanjing Indoor World Championships or the Guangzhou World Athletics Relays, China consistently delivers successful outcomes. China’s role in World Athletics is crucial.
(Source: China Media Group, Beijing)
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