Monaco, Oct 31: World Athletics Relays, scheduled for May 13-14,2023 in Guangzhou, has been postponed until April/May 2025 due to the ongoing pandemic conditions in China, the World Athletics Council said on Monday.
The Council said that the decision was taken with the agreement of both the Guangzhou organizing committee (LOC) and the Chinese Athletics Association (CAA).
“The decision to delay the World Relays impacts on the qualification system for the relay events at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23. Therefore, the World Athletics Competition Commission, upon approval of the Council, has revised the qualification system to include the top eight teams from the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 and the top eight teams from the performance lists,” World Athletics said in a statement.
Relay Teams can qualify for Budapest 2023 in one of two ways- First eight placed teams at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon22 and be one of the best ranked teams at the end of the qualification period to fill the eight remaining places.
Following the end of the Qualification Period (i.e., 30 July 2023), World Athletics will identify the teams qualified by virtue of their position in the World Athletics Top Lists (according to the best performances in the whole qualification period).
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: “It is regrettable when we have to postpone an event. However, World Athletics and the local organizing committee are both committed to the responsible planning and delivery of the World Athletics Relays, which includes ensuring that athletes from all international federations are able to participate in and enjoy an experience in a safe and healthy environment.”
The host of the 2024 World Athletics Relays is set to be awarded by the World Athletics Council at their meeting in Rome, Italy, on November 30.
