A wide range of innovations will be on display across broadcast, competition, event presentation, athlete experience and digital platforms for the first World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest this September.
Athletics Weekly said World Athletics has revealed a series of innovations that will debut at the inaugural games from September 11-13, as the governing body looks to reshape how elite athletics is presented to fans around the world.
Monaco-based the World Athletics is the international governing body for the sport of athletics, covering track and field, cross-country running, road running, race walking, mountain running, and ultra running.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said, “We have said from the very beginning that we are doing things differently with the Ultimate Championship.
“These innovations offer a taste of how we intend to move the sport forward with this brand-new global championship, elevating athletics and its many stars while reimagining how fans will experience the inaugural edition.”
Broadcast innovations
At the centre of these innovations is a thorough overhaul of the broadcast product with the aim of allowing for more storytelling around the athletes, while also engaging fans more effectively through digital platforms.
The graphics package includes updated visuals featuring augmented reality, athlete headshots, new data points, and a refreshed look and feel. Win probabilities and projected finishing positions will also form part of the broadcast.
As exclusive international media rights partner, Infront has worked alongside World Athletics to ensure the championship enjoys coverage globally, helping establish a broad platform for a new competition format that combines elite performance with an enhanced viewing experience.
Competition and event presentation
From a competition standpoint, things will also look a little different at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
The field of play will be transformed by a dramatic black infield, with only the competition areas in use during the session showcased in sharp contrast, drawing fans towards the ongoing action.
A bespoke sound identity will reflect the vibe and energy of the Ultimate brand, with pole vault world record-holder Mondo Duplantis in charge of delivering the Ultimate Anthem.
Live acts will ensure that each session warm-up will start with a bang and get spectators in the right mood.
The competition schedule has been thoughtfully shaped to maximise the impact of each discipline, with an organising principle of just one field event being contested at a time, whenever possible, to give each athlete the full attention of the audience. It will feature three sessions across three evenings, each lasting three hours. Each session will feature both a horizontal and a vertical jump, a throwing event and track finals.
Athlete experience
Athletes will also experience a different build-up to competition at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
The day before the championships will feature a new programme of activities, including a formal press conference, red carpet arrivals, dedicated media sessions and a live lane draw for the men’s and women’s 200m.
For event days, specific rights have been reserved to ensure all participating athletes will receive footage of their respective disciplines to publish on their digital channels and allow them to make greater use of their own name, image and likeness rights.
A focus on the singularity of what it means to be an Ultimate Champion has also resulted in a reimagining of awards.
There will be no medals. Instead, all invited athletes will receive a unique participation token. Ultimate Champions will each earn a trophy designed to connect with their participation token to form a complete piece. Both the trophy and the participation token will be revealed closer to the start of the event.
World Athletics says the event will also feature a record prize fund of $10 million, including $150,000 for each individual champion.
Away from the stadium, a new World Athletics mobile app will launch during the championships. Designed as a year-round platform, it will include live results, athlete profiles, video content, predictions, interactive features and personalised notifications aimed at bringing fans closer to the sport.
The World Athletics Ultimate Championship will take place at Budapest’s National Athletics Centre from September 11-13 and will feature many of the world’s leading athletes competing for the biggest prize money in the sport.
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