World Athletics Ultimate Championship: A turning point or a gamble?

World Athletics has announced a brand new competition called the Ultimate Championship, scheduled for September 2026 in Budapest. With a total prize pool of $10 million, it is the largest prize fund in the history of world athletics. However, the most controversial aspect is that the competition will not award medals, only a single trophy for the overall winner. This raises the question: Is World Athletics creating a revolution or simply repeating the mistakes of private competitions that have failed before? The Ultimate Championship is designed to fill the calendar gap when 2026 has no Olympics or World Championships. According to the official announcement, the competition will last three days, from September 11 to 13, at the National Stadium in Budapest – the venue that successfully hosted the 2026 World Athletics Championships. A unique feature is the black track and red carpet, creating an atmosphere similar to Grand Slam tennis or Formula 1 events. This is aimed at attracting television audiences, with BBC set to broadcast the entire event live. Two iconic figures selected for the competition are Noah Lyles, American world champion in 100m and 200m, and Armand Duplantis, Swedish pole vault world record holder. Lyles will serve as the MC of the competition, while Duplantis is expected to break the world record in Budapest. However, having an active athlete serve as MC is rare, indicating that the competition prioritizes entertainment over pure competition. In terms of structure, World Athletics insists the Ultimate Championship will be the 'most elite' competition by inviting only the best athletes. There are no qualifying standards, no A or B standards – all based on invitation. This creates an exclusive arena where only chosen athletes can compete. But this raises concerns about fairness, as athletes cannot earn their spot through performance. Compared to other competitions, the Ultimate Championship can be seen as a direct competitor to the Diamond League, the current leading commercial circuit. However, World Athletics is both the organizer and the financier, creating a potential conflict of interest. If the competition fails, the losses will directly impact global athletics development budgets. Another notable point is the comparison to Grand Slam Track, the private competition that was once expected to revolutionize athletics but collapsed due to financial issues. The BBC analyst questioned: 'Have we been here before?' – hinting at the risk of history repeating. If the Ultimate Championship fails to generate enough revenue from broadcasting rights and sponsorships, World Athletics will bear huge losses. From a professional perspective, holding the competition in mid-September is a major challenge for athletes. After a long season with national championships, Diamond League events, and possibly World Championships, maintaining peak form in late September is difficult. For sprinters like Noah Lyles, adding another major event after the main season increases injury risk. In contrast, Duplantis with pole vault has an advantage as technique is less dependent on seasonal peaks. A bright spot is that the competition promises to offer a new experience for television audiences. With a black track, red carpet, and entertainment segments like Duplantis singing before competing, World Athletics aims to turn athletics into a real show. However, experts worry that this might overshadow the core values of sports: fair competition and sportsmanship. Regarding prize money, the $10 million figure is impressive, but it needs close examination. This amount is distributed across multiple events, and World Athletics has not yet announced specific amounts per event or ranking. Compared to the Diamond League, where each leg has a prize pool of around $500,000, $10 million for three days is substantial. But if only allocated to a few invited athletes, it may not truly be 'record-breaking' as promoted. Tactically, the absence of medals removes the incentive for athletes to compete for national honor or historical achievements. Instead, they only chase money. This might lead to conservative performance, where athletes choose to conserve energy rather than attempt records. Conversely, with large sums, some may take more risks, creating spectacular performances. Another issue is the competition's continuity. The Ultimate Championship is announced as a biennial event, but it is unclear which years subsequent editions will fall in. If it coincides with Olympic years or World Championship years, athletes will have to prioritize, and they are likely to choose traditional events. This threatens the long-term survival of the competition. From the perspective of a long-time women's sports journalist, I see this competition betting heavily on the appeal of stars like Lyles and Duplantis. But athletics is not just those two. Without depth in the athlete field, the competition will quickly lose its allure. Moreover, the absence of prominent female athletes in the initial announcement is a concern regarding diversity and gender equality. Overall, the Ultimate Championship is a bold but risky initiative. It could usher in a new era for world athletics, where competitions become more commercially attractive. Or it could become an expensive lesson about ambition exceeding reality. Only time will tell. But with available information, experts are being very cautious and waiting for more specific details from World Athletics. For Vietnamese athletes, is there any chance to participate in this competition? Currently, due to the invitation-only mechanism, it is very difficult for Vietnamese track and field athletes to be included. However, if there are exceptionally outstanding athletes at continental level, perhaps they will catch attention. Anyway, this opens a new direction for Vietnamese sports in investing and developing special talents. In summary, the World Athletics Ultimate Championship is an ambitious step, but there are still too many unknowns. With record prize money, three intense days in Budapest, and the participation of top stars, the competition promises to deliver peak performances. But will it be convincing enough to survive multiple editions? The answer will come in September 2026.