Singapore looks to host 2025 World Athletics Championships

Singapore has announced Singapore25, a bid to host the 2025 World Athletics Championships, which, if successful, this would be the first time the World Athletics’ premier event will be hosted in South east Asia.

With 2025 the year of Singapore’s 60th year of independence, the pinnacle event has been identified as a fitting addition to the nation’s celebrations and would add to the nation’s events portfolio which already includes international sporting events such as the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix.

Pointing to the four goals of World Athletics’ strategic plan - more participation, more people, more fans and more partnerships - Sport Singapore Chief Executive, Lim Teck Yin explains “coupling our commitment to inspire Singaporeans to ‘Live Better Through Sport’ and World Athletics’ vision of ‘Creating a Healthier and Fitter World’, Singapore25 has the potential to be a game-changer for sports and athletics in the region that will benefit the sport, the athletes, fans and the industry.

“The World Athletics Championships has never been to Southeast Asia. The region is home to 680 million people including 200 million under-35s, countless MNCs and over 30 tech unicorns.”

With Singapore setting its sights on becoming the gateway for athletics for South east Asia, a region of untapped potential for the sport, Lien Choong Luen, President of Singapore Athletics, advised “south east Asia’s potential for new fans, partnerships, athletes, and heroes to take athletics to the next level is self-evident - and Singapore25 can be that springboard.

“Singapore25 will give our athletes and those from the region the opportunity to rub shoulders with the giants of the track and field and fire up more interest for the sport. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to inspire the athletes of tomorrow.”

With the bid submitted, Singapore25 will showcase Singapore’s trademark of innovation, sustainability, out-of-the-box thinking and meticulous execution - for athletes, fans, spectators, businesses, and the local community. It is also no stranger to organising international athletics, having hosted the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010 and the Southeast Asian Games in 2015.

Singapore Tourism Board Chief Executive, Keith Tan added “we hope to welcome the world’s best athletes and their fans to Singapore in 2025. We have a proven track record of hosting world-class sports events successfully, and Singapore25 would be a strong addition that boosts our vibrancy and attractiveness as a lifestyle destination.”

The Singapore team will partner with Ong Beng Seng, the man behind the success of the Singapore Grand Prix and its transformation into Formula 1’s first ever night race and one of the key highlights of the F1 calendar.

Singapore will draw on the same innovation and expertise to reimagine the World Athletics Championships and deliver an event that aims to set a new bar for the future.

The results of the award are expected to be announced in July, during the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA. The World Athletics Championships 2023 are due to take place in Budapest, Hungary.

Image: The Singapore National Stadium at the Singapore Sports Hub would be the likely venue for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Singapore's bid is successful.