There’s just something about London and track and field that hits differently. When the World Athletics Championships came to the UK back in 2017, the stadium was buzzing, the fans were electric, and the athletes fed off every second of it. Now, there’s a real shot to bring it all back in 2029—but that dream might slip away if the UK government doesn’t step up with financial support soon. But why? With such a big chance to make London the centerpiece of the track world, what’s stopping them? And what do the fans have to say?
Now, UK Athletics and UK Sport have already expressed an interest in hosting both the World Athletics Championships and the World Para Athletics Championships. Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics, said he’d “love to have another crack” at hosting the Worlds, especially after the huge success in 2017 and the continued popularity of events like the London Diamond League. But here’s the issue: government backing is proving to be an uphill battle.
If no commitment comes from Whitehall within the next two months, officials warn the whole bid may have to be scrapped before it even properly starts. It doesn’t help that Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently announced spending cuts across government departments. A full review is expected in June, and if the funding isn’t locked in by then, sources say any hope of hosting the event is basically “dead in the water.”
EXCLUSIVE: A British bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships is in jeopardy amid concerns that it will not secure the necessary financial backing from the government
Read the full story by @Lawton_Times https://t.co/QC9giJ97hj
— Times Sport (@TimesSport) April 9, 2025
That’s especially frustrating given everything already on the UK’s sports calendar: England hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup this summer, the European Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games in 2026, the Tour de France in 2027, and the UEFA Euros in 2028. After that, it’s a seven-year gap until the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Dame Katherine Grainger, who recently left UK Sport to chair the British Olympic Association, called it out.
She’s worried the UK is losing ground in the international sports scene and warned that this “big gap” could cost public investment, hurt the country’s global reputation, and rob athletes of key opportunities. The World Athletics Championships would be the perfect bridge—but only if the bid can get off the ground. With World Athletics set to announce the bidding timeline in the coming weeks and a final decision due in September 2026, the pressure’s on. And track and field fans? Yeah, they’re not staying quiet on this one.
Track and field fans want the magic back, but need the government to show up
One track and field nailed it: “Would be a shame if London doesn’t bid — the 2017 Worlds in London were incredible — but these things are very expensive to host, which means government funding is a must. Rome pulled out of consideration for 2027 Worlds for the same reason.” And yep, that’s exactly what went down. In February 2024, the Italian Athletics Federation dropped its bid to host the 2027 World Championships after the government said “nope” to covering the €85 million price tag (around $92 million).
With the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics already soaking up a ton of cash, Rome just couldn’t get the backing. The thing is, this isn’t Rome’s first time bowing out over budget stress. Back in 2016, the city council pulled the plug on its bid for the 2024 Olympic Games, too. Turns out, dreaming big is one thing—paying for it is a whole other story.
Another fan pointed out the bigger picture: “That’s a lot different, though. Italy is holding the Winter Olympics, so two major events in back-to-back years would be VERY expensive. The UK government just doesn’t support athletics as much as it should, as shown by a reduction in funding.” And they’re not wrong. While Italy backed out of the 2027 World Championships because the 2026 Winter Olympics are already draining the budget, the UK’s issue runs deeper.
Why? Well, because it’s about priorities, not just price tags. Despite Team GB’s track and field squad pulling off their best Olympic showing since 1984 with 10 medals in Paris, UK Sport still cut athletics funding by 8% for the LA 2028 cycle, dropping it from £22.18 million to £20.45 million. Meanwhile, other sports kept or even gained funding. So while Italy stepped back for financial reasons, the UK’s move feels more like a shift in support—and that’s what has fans frustrated.
One more track and field fan added, “Pretty bad news for fans, as this could have been such an amazing event.” Another chimed in with, “Concerning news for UK athletics if they are failing to get the support of their government.” And one more urged patience, saying, “Let’s wait a few more days to see if the funding will be secured or not.” The uncertainty is hitting hard, not just because London puts on world-class events, but because fans genuinely care about the future of the sport.
All this has stirred real concern about the UK’s commitment to athletics and what it could mean down the line. Sure, there’s still hope that new funding options might pop up or the government might change its mind. But fans aren’t sugarcoating it—London knows how to bring the magic, and the world’s ready for that energy again. The big question is whether the government is. Without their support, one of track and field’s most iconic stages could be left in the dark for 2029.
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