Torun, Poland: World Athletics will introduce a standalone World Marathon Championship from 2030 as part of a revamp of its distance running calendar, the governing body said on Tuesday.
The marathon will remain on the programme at the World Championships in 2027 and 2029, but will be removed from the event from 2031 onwards.
Under the new format, the World Marathon Championship will be staged annually, with men and women competing in alternate years, in line with the current scheduling of marathon events at the World Championships.
World Athletics said it has opened discussions with Athens to host the inaugural edition.
“We are delighted to be exploring the possibility of a standalone World Marathon Championships with Athens, the place where this iconic discipline was born,” World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said.
The governing body added that the annual World Road Running Championships will continue as a separate event under the new structure.
