World Athletics CEO Sebastian Coe on Wednesday threw caution to the wind to the Athletics Federation of India’s (AFI) potential bid for the 2029 World Championships.
The governing body of athletics in India is set to formally submit its bid for the showpiece event, in an attempt to strengthen its attempt to host the Olympics 2036.
“The 2029 World Championships, look, we will await with interest (India’s expected bid). I have to tell you, we’ve got a lot of interest in those Championships already, and the process will open shortly,” Coe said during a virtual conference with the global media.
The bidding process will begin in January-February 2025 with the host city set to be announced in 2026.
Distance running powerhouse Kenya and Britain, which staged the showpiece in 2017 when the legendary Usain Bolt ran his last international race in London, have shown interest in hosting the 2029 World Championships.
The AFI officially submitted its expression of interest to host the World U20 Championships in 2028.
Coe met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya besides the AFI officials when Coe made a two-day visit to India last month.
“I had a very good discussion with Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and actually was comforted by the recognition that sport, particularly athletics, is probably the most or one of the most accessible sports,” Coe said about his discussion with PM Modi.
“He (PM Modi) sees (it) as a very key element in the growth and development of healthy communities, particularly among young people, both mentally and physically. And that was in large part the discussion.
“I have to say that I spend a lot of time talking to senior politicians and political leaders. I’ve rarely found such a commitment to that concept. I was very pleased to hear that commitment.” Coe, who is one of the frontrunners to become International Olympic Committee president in the March 2025 elections, said Indian athletics is moving ahead in the right direction, with javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra’s achievements being the key to its growth.
“(AFI chief) Adille Sumariwalla is a very ambitious federation president. We will continue to have good dialogue with India, both at governmental level and certainly at federation level.
“And yes, Indian athletics is moving in the right direction. And it’s not unhelpful that Neeraj (Chopra) is there on the scene, just reminding people that there is occasionally an alternative to cricket.”