World Athletics Awards 2028 & 2030 Championships to India, Kazakhstan & China
Odisha, India, is set to make history as the host of the World Athletics Indoor Championships, marking the first time the nation will host a global track and field championship. The announcement, made on , by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, underscores a strategic shift towards expanding the sport’s reach into emerging markets.
The decision, formalized during the 240th World Athletics Council Meeting in Toruń, Poland, also saw Astana, Kazakhstan, awarded the edition of the championships. Coe highlighted the strength and growing appeal of the World Indoor Championships, expressing confidence in the future of the event with these new host cities. “The World Athletics Council this morning awarded the next two editions of the event, the World Indoor Championships, to Odisha in India in 2028 and Astana, Kazakhstan, in 2030,” Coe stated. “The future of the World Indoor Athletics Championships is looking bright and assured.”
The selection of Odisha reflects the state’s growing prominence as a sporting destination within India. The Kalinga Stadium Complex in Bhubaneswar will serve as the primary venue, leveraging its existing indoor stadium infrastructure which played a key role in securing the bid. Odisha previously hosted the Asian Athletics Championships in and a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze level competition, demonstrating its capacity to manage international athletic events.
“Here’s a proud moment not only for Odisha but for the entire nation of India,” said Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi. “We extend our sincere gratitude to World Athletics and the Athletics Federation of India for placing trust in Odisha to host one of the most prestigious championships in global athletics.”
Majhi emphasized the state’s commitment to sports development, noting that it has become a “central pillar of its development vision.” He cited sustained investment in infrastructure, athlete development programs, and high-performance ecosystems as key factors in Odisha’s success in attracting major sporting events. The hosting of the championships is expected to further strengthen this commitment and inspire a new generation of Indian athletes.
The awarding of the championships to Astana, Kazakhstan, continues the trend of bringing major athletics events to new regions. Astana has already demonstrated its capabilities by hosting the Asian Indoor Championships in and World Indoor Tour Gold meetings in both and .
Askhat Khasenov, President of the Kazakhstan Athletics Federation, expressed gratitude for the trust placed in the country, stating, “This significant milestone is a recognition of our country’s efforts in developing athletics and strengthening its position in the world. We are committed to delivering the event at the highest possible standard and are confident that the championships will become a remarkable and memorable event for the global athletics community.”
Alongside the championship announcements, the World Athletics Council also awarded the World Race Walking Team Championships to Hefei, China. This continues a multi-year athletics journey through China, which will also host World Athletics Series events in Nanjing and Guangzhou in , and Yangzhou and Beijing in . Sun Yuanfu, President of the Chinese Athletics Association, affirmed their commitment to delivering a “splendid and successful” event in Hefei.
The Council also approved updates to qualification principles for the World Athletics Championships and the Olympic Games. The new model will allocate 40% of qualifying spots based on entry standards and 60% based on world rankings, a shift from the previous 50-50 split. This change aims to provide more qualification opportunities through the Continental Tour meetings.
Amendments were also made to the Eligibility Rules and Transfer of Allegiance Regulations, addressing concerns about athlete recruitment and ensuring a genuine connection between athletes and the countries they represent. The Council clarified that the regulations do not restrict athletes’ freedom to live, work, or train internationally, but rather aim to prevent mercenary transfers of allegiance.
Further adjustments were made to address the risk of age verification and manipulation, particularly in jurisdictions where such practices are a concern. Minor amendments to Eligibility Rule 3.4 and Technical Rule 3.2 were approved to allow World Athletics and the Athletics Integrity Unit to implement specific age verification requirements where necessary.
Finally, a series of technical rule amendments were approved, covering areas such as false starts in combined events, qualification round procedures, pacing regulations, and the technical requirements for throwing circles. The Council also updated the Athletic Shoe Regulations to remove throwing events from the scope of the regulations, allowing athletes to wear footwear of their choice in those disciplines. Greater flexibility was also granted to Diamond League events regarding wild card invitations.