World Athletics President, Sebastian Coe, has defended the decision to host this month’s world championships in Hungary’s capital, Budapest.
Despite opposition from Hungary’s far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orban regarding the European Union’s “LGBT+ offensive,” Coe maintains that sport is adaptable and can be an anchor point in an uncertain world.
He acknowledges that the ideas of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) may not always align with his own but agrees that taking sports events to challenging environments can bring about positive changes.
Addressing a recent doping case involving women’s 100m hurdles world record holder, Tobi Amusan of Nigeria, Coe emphasizes that tackling such issues boosts the sport’s reputation and instills confidence. He believes that the occasional headline about anti-doping cases is preferable to ignoring the problem altogether.
As the world championships approach, Coe anticipates outstanding performances and the potential for the best championships ever.
He highlights events such as the men’s shot put, where Ryan Crouser of the USA has set a new world record, and the women’s middle distance events, featuring athletes like Athing Mu of the USA and Faith Kipyegon of Kenya, who have shown exceptional performances.
