World Athletics president Sebastian Coe described India as a market with “untapped potential” and said the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad could play a transformative role in promoting athletics in the country.
During a virtual media interaction, Coe confirmed that the 4×400 medley relay and the mile relay – both added to the program for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow – would continue as fixtures at the 2030 edition too. The mile race, which was last held at the 1966 Games, will replace the 1,500 meters in Glasgow before it moves to Ahmedabad.
Coe highlighted the importance of the Commonwealth Games for athletics, describing it as one of the sport’s toughest multi-disciplinary competitions. “Getting a Commonwealth Games medal in athletics is statistically very difficult,” he said. “If you want to win the endurance title, you have to beat the best, including Kenya. In the sprints, you’re up against Jamaica, Great Britain and Canada. It’s a very tough championship and the level of competition is always extremely high.”
The two-time middle-distance Olympic champion said hosting the 2030 Games will be a momentous moment for Indian athletics. “India is an important market for us. It has a lot of untapped potential,” Coe said, noting that the growing popularity of athletics in the country is fueled in part by Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra.
“The opportunity to stage our events – commercially and from a participation perspective – in the growing sports marketing market is hugely important,” he added, revealing that World Athletics has been in extensive discussions with the Athletics Federation of India and commercial partners to expand its presence in the country.
India have already bid to host the 2028 World Under-20 Athletics Championships and made strategic bids for the 2029 and 2031 Senior World Athletics Championships.
Explaining the return of the mile race, Coe said the event balances tradition and innovation. “It’s a nod to history,” he said, referring to the iconic ‘Miracle Mile’ at the 1954 Commonwealth Games when Roger Bannister and John Landy ran under four minutes.
Coe also praised the current depth of talent in global athletics, describing it as “magnificent”, noting that 2025 was a commercially “extraordinary year” for world athletics, highlighted by record revenues and massive global viewership for the Tokyo World Championships.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
December 17, 2025
