UK Athletics taping into 'Keely Hodgkinson effect' in bid for 2029 World Championships

Keely Hodgkinson.Photo. Imago

UK Athletics taping into 'Keely Hodgkinson effect' in bid for 2029 World Championships

Evans Ousuru 17:57 - 01.04.2025

UK Athletics looking to tap into the 'Keely Hodgkinson effect' as they weigh making the 2029 World Championships bid.

The UK is set to file a formal expression of interest in staging the 2029 World Athletics Championships. 

The country looks to secure another major sports event this decade and will tap into the 'Keely Hodgkinson effect' so that the bid gains more weight and value according to the Daily Mail.

Amidst the ongoing feasibility study, their bid for the 2029 World Championships is set to be confirmed in the summer.

UK Athletics chief executive Jack Buckner believes a successful bid would be a huge boost and help capitalise on the ‘Keely Hodgkinson effect’, with the Olympic 800m champion having already increased the popularity of track and field in the UK.

Asked about making the most of Hodgkinson's bounce, Buckner said: "That is what we would like. You look at some of the athletes coming through and their profiles and what that (a successful bid) could do."

He said their vision is borne from the fact that they always strive to present better financial packages.

"Each year we want to present a better financial picture and a better programme of events to keep building this generation of athletes. Our finances are now in much, much better shape, so we won’t be going bankrupt.

"Our financial future is not going to be dependent on a single event. But a World Championships would massively accelerate all of that. That would be absolutely brilliant."

The UK will be a beehive of activities in the coming months. The women’s rugby union World Cup is being held in England later this year, before next summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

In March, it was announced that the men’s and women’s Tour de France races will both start in Britain in 2027, while the UK and Ireland are hosting the European Football Championship in 2028