The World and European Athletics Championships feature elite athletes across track and field, cross country, and road events. Organised by different bodies, each championship covers different formats of the sport - and are streamed for free on Eurovision Sport.
| Championship | Organiser | Frequency | Last Held | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Athletics Championships | World Athletics | Every 2 years | 2023 (Budapest) | Track & field, road, relays, combined events |
| World Athletics Indoor Championships | World Athletics | Every 2 years | 2025 (Nanjing China) | Indoor track & field |
| European Athletics Indoor Championships | European Athletics | Every 2 years | 2025 (Apeldoorn, Netherlands) | Indoor track & field |
| World Athletics Cross Country Championships | World Athletics | Every 2 years | 2024 (Belgrade) | Cross country running |
| European Cross Country Championships | European Athletics | Annual | 2024 Antalya | Cross country running |
| World Athletics Road Running Championships | World Athletics | Every 2 years | 2023 (Riga) |
Half marathon
5 km
1 mile
|
| World Athletics Relays | World Athletics | Every 2 years | 2025 (Guangzhou) | |
| World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships | World Athletics | Every 2 years | 2024 (Antalya) |
The World Athletics Championships are the premier global event in track and field, organised by World Athletics. Held every two years, they feature men's and women's events across all disciplines - and rival the Olympics in global athletics prestige.
| Info | |
|---|---|
| Organiser | World Athletics |
| Frequency | Every 2 years |
| Next Edition | Tokyo 2025 |
| Last Held | Budapest, Hungary 2023 |
| Disciplines Included |
Track (100m to 10,000m)
Road (marathon, 35 km race walk)
Field (long jump, pole vault, shot put, etc.)
Combined events (decathlon, heptathlon)
Relays (4x100m, 4x400m, mixed relays)
|
The 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest featured unforgettable performances and thrilling competition.
The 2025 World Athletics Championships will be held in Tokyo in September, bringing the world's top athletes back to the city's Olympic Stadium.
The World Athletics Indoor Championships is the world's top indoor track and field event. Held every two years in the spring, it features men's and women's events across a compact 200-metre indoor track, with unique formats that differ from outdoor competitions.
| Info | |
|---|---|
| Organiser | World Athletics |
| Frequency | Every 2 years (unless held in consecutive years to align with Outdoor Championships) |
| Typical Timing | March |
| Track Format | 200-metre banked indoor track |
| Last Held | 2025 - Nanjing China |
| Next Edition | 2026 - Torun, Poland (planned) |
| Key Differences | No 10,000m or 400m hurdles, or 200m; tighter turns affect pacing and tactics |
| Events Include |
Sprint
Middle-distance
Hurdles
Jumps
Pole vault
Relays
Combined events (heptathlon/pentathlon)
|
The European Athletics Indoor Championships are a top-level biennial event showcasing Europe's best in indoor track and field. Held every two years in March, the competition takes place on a 200-metre indoor track with a full programme of events. Unlike the World Athletics Indoor Championships, which feature global participation, this event is limited to European athletes.
| Info | |
|---|---|
| Organiser | European Athletics (LEN) |
| Frequency | Every 2 years |
| Typical Timing | March |
| Last Held | 2025 - Apeldoorn, Netherlands |
| Next Edition | 2027 - Valencia, Spain |
| Track Format | 200-metre indoor banked track |
| Events Included |
Sprints (60m, 400m)
Middle-distance (800m, 1500m, 3000m)
Hurdles (60m hurdles)
Field (high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump)
Throws (shot put)
Relays (4x400m)
Combined events (heptathlon, pentathlon)
|
The World Athletics Road Running Championships is a unique global event that blends world-class competition with community participation. Featuring official championship races in the half marathon 5k and 1 mile, it offers the rare chance to see elite athletes race alongside thousands of amateur runners on the same course. With fast-paced formats, city-centre routes, and dramatic sprint finishes, it's one of the most accessible and exciting events in the athletics calendar.
| Info | |
|---|---|
| Organiser | World Athletics |
| Frequency | Every 2 years |
| Last Edition | 2023 - Riga |
| Next Edition | 2026 - Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Distances Included |
Half marathon (21.1 km)
5K run (elite + mass races)
One mile
|
The World Athletics Relays is a global team event focused solely on relay races, featuring the world's fastest sprinters. Created in 2014, the event now serves as a qualifier for the World Athletics Championships and Olympics.
| Info | |
|---|---|
| Organiser | World Athletics |
| First Held | 2014 - Nassau, Bahamas |
| Frequency | Every 2 years |
| Last Held | 2025 - Guangzhou, China |
| Next Edition | 2026 - Gaborone, Botswana |
| Relay Events Included |
4x100m relay (men & women)
4x400m relay (men, women & mixed)
|
| Purpose | Qualification for World Athletics Championships |
The World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships is a biennial event where the world's top race walkers compete for individual and team medals. It contributes to international rankings and forms a key part of the World Athletics Race Walking Tour.
| Info | |
|---|---|
| Organiser | World Athletics |
| Frequency | Every 2 years |
| Last Held | 2024 - Antalya, Turkey |
| Next Edition | 2026 - Brasilia |
| Race Distances |
20 km (men & women)
35 km (men & women)
|
| Average Speed | Elite athletes walk at 12-15 km/h, faster than most people run |
Cross country running is a competitive long-distance discipline raced over natural terrain like grass, mud, and hills. It features prominently in both global and European calendars, with the World Athletics Cross Country Championships standing as the sport's most prestigious event.
| Competition | Organiser | Frequency | Last Held | Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Athletics Cross Country Championships | World Athletics | Every 2 years | 2024 - Belgrade | Premier global event for cross country |
| European Cross Country Championships (SPAR) | European Athletics | Annual | 2024 - Antalya | Flagship continental championship |
| ECCC Cross Country (Clubs) | European Athletics | Annual | 2025 - Albufeira, POR | Club competition for European teams |
| World Athletics Cross Country Tour | World Athletics | Annual | 2024-2025 Season | Rankings count toward 10,000m qualification at the World Championships and Olympic Games |
The Hypo-Meeting is one of the world's most prestigious annual competitions for combined events, bringing together top athletes in the decathlon and heptathlon. Held every spring in Gotzis, Austria, it forms part of the World Athletics Combined Events Tour and is known for high-level performances and record-setting scores.
| Info | |
|---|---|
| Location | Gotzis, Austria |
| Timing | Late May or early June (annually) |
| Men's Event | Decathlon - 10 events over two days |
| Women's Event | Heptathlon - 7 events over two days |
| Tour Affiliation | Part of the World Athletics Combined Events Tour |
| Notable Past Winners | Damian Warner, Nafi Thiam, Katarina Johnson-Thompson |
| Scoring | Points awarded per event based on performance tables |
| Broadcast | Available to stream for free on Eurovision Sport |
The World Athletics Indoor Tour is an annual series of elite indoor track and field competitions held during the winter season.
| Info | |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Held annually from January to March |
| Venue Type | Indoor arenas with 200m tracks |
| Tour Levels | Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Challenger categories |
| Events Included |
Men: 400m; 1500m/mile; 60m hurdles; high jump; long jump
Women: 60m; 800m; 3000m/5000m; pole vault; triple jump; shot put
|
| Final Rankings | Athletes earn points at each meet; top performers crowned overall winners. The athlete with the most points is a wildcard entry for the World Athletics Indoor Championships. |
The European Athletics U18, U20, and U23 Championships are age-group competitions that showcase the best young talent in European track and field. Held every two years, these events include a full programme of Olympic-style disciplines and serve as a vital pathway to senior-level success. Countries like Germany, France, Italy, and Great Britain frequently top the medal tables
| Championship | Frequency |
|---|---|
| European Athletics U18 Championships | Every 2 years |
| European Athletics U20 Championships | Every 2 years |
| European Athletics U23 Championships | Every 2 years |
| Purpose | Develop future stars and prepare athletes for senior international competition |
You can watch top-level athletics events, live and for free on Eurovision Sport. From indoor meets to outdoor tours and age-group competitions, full coverage is available on demand with no subscription required.