Athletics Elite Gather in Budapest for Groundbreaking Championship with $10 Million Prize Pool

Budapest is set to host a historic event as the first-ever World Athletics Ultimate Championship kicks off this weekend, bringing together the world's top athletes. The competition, running from September 11-13, features an impressive lineup, including 26 Olympic champions and 26 world champions, all competing for a record-breaking prize pot of $10 million.

This exclusive, invite-only event encompasses the best performers in track and field, including Olympic and World Championship gold medallists, as well as Diamond League winners. Notably, the championship aims to fill the gap between World Championships, offering a biennial platform for athletes to showcase their skills and vie for the title of Ultimate Champion.

Record Prize Money and Innovative Format

The Ultimate Championship offers a staggering $150,000 to winners of each event, more than double the amount awarded at last year's World Championships. Runners-up will receive $75,000, while third place takes home $40,000, with prizes extending down to $2,000 for those finishing in 16th place. Relay teams will also benefit, splitting $80,000 among themselves based on their finishing positions.

New Competitive Structure

In an innovative twist, the championship will not feature traditional heats; all events will be direct semifinals or finals, allowing for a faster-paced competition. Athletes will choose their preferred semifinal heat and lane based on their seed order, and ties in vertical jumps will be settled by a jump-off. Additionally, competitors in throwing events will have four attempts, diverging from the standard six.

However, not all events will be represented at this championship. Events such as shot put, discus throw, and long-distance races have been excluded, leading to disappointment among some athletes who argue that this limits opportunities in the sport. Olympic discus champion Matthew Denny voiced his concerns, highlighting the life-changing potential of the prize money and calling for World Athletics to reconsider its exclusionary decisions.

Source: www.aljazeera.com