China’s indoor track world postponed again to 2025

The world indoor track championships in China were postponed for the third time on Thursday, pushing the originally scheduled 2020 event to 2025.

World Athletics cited « ongoing pandemic conditions » in China for postponing the March 2023 indoor worlds in Nanjing for two years.

China is pursuing a strict « zero COVID » policy which also saw its hosting of the 2023 Asian Football Cup canceled in May.

Since the COVID-19 coronavirus spread from Wuhan in late 2019, the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing have been the only major international sporting event held in China. It took place under strict lockdown conditions with no fans at most events.

Nanjing was scheduled to host the indoor world in March 2020, then 2021, 2023 and now 2025.

World Athletics chairman Sebastian Coe said the first decision was « to give certainty to athletes and member federations as they prepare for the 2023 competitive season ».

« Unfortunately the calendar will prevent us from moving the event from 2023, » said Coe, « but the Indoor Championships will return in 2024 to Glasgow. »