London's push to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships has received a significant lift after organisers finalised an agreement with West Ham United regarding the use of the London Stadium.
The bid, which carries the backing of both the UK government and London mayor Sadiq Khan, had faced uncertainty over whether the football stadium would be available for the athletics event. Those doubts intensified following West Ham's relegation to the Championship, which added another layer of complexity to scheduling discussions between the club and the bid's organisers.
However, following what the club described as a period of detailed negotiations, a resolution has now been reached. In an official statement, West Ham confirmed that London Stadium would be included as a host venue for the UK Government-backed bid, working alongside London Stadium LLP and Athletics Ventures.
The club emphasised that supporters remained central to the discussions throughout the process. According to the statement, the negotiations involved not only the stadium operators but also local and national government officials, as well as football's governing bodies, to ensure any agreement would not disrupt the football calendar.
"West Ham United can confirm it has reached an agreement with London Stadium LLP and Athletics Ventures for London Stadium to be included as a host venue as part of a UK Government backed bid to hold the 2029 World Athletics Championships in London," the club said. "The agreement follows a period of detailed negotiations with the organisers, London Stadium operators, local and national government officials, and the relevant football governing bodies. Throughout the process the club's highest priority has always been the West Ham United supporters, ensuring any agreed programme has minimal impact on the football schedule and respects the club's overriding priority principle as detailed in the concession agreement."
As part of the arrangement, West Ham stated that several new initiatives would be introduced with the aim of improving the stadium and overall matchday experience for fans attending football fixtures.
The club also clarified that the specific effect on their fixture list would only become clear once their competitive status for the 2029/30 campaign is determined. "Any impact on the football schedule will be confirmed once it is known which division and other competitions West Ham United will be competing in during the 2029/30 season," the statement continued. "Further discussions with the relevant football governing bodies can then take place to review and mitigate against any potential impact on the fixture schedule."
London has not welcomed the World Athletics Championships since 2017, when the event sold out at the same stadium. Since then, prominent athletes, including Olympic 800 metres champion Keely Hodgkinson, have publicly urged for the stadium situation to be resolved so the city could once again stage the championships.
Having previously lodged an expression of interest, organisers have now formally submitted their complete bid after securing the necessary agreement with West Ham.
UK Athletics chief executive Jack Buckner welcomed the breakthrough, describing the London Stadium as central to the country's Olympic legacy ambitions. "Bidding to hold the World Athletics Championships in the London Stadium, the showpiece of London 2012, was always at the centre of the UK's Olympic legacy plans," Buckner said. "We are very grateful to the Government, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London and UK Sport for their fantastic support for this bid. We're delighted that we have reached agreement with the London Stadium and West Ham United for the use of the London Stadium and our sincere thanks for their commitment in making this happen."
Based on reporting from Independent.