Full stadiums and world-class standards: Athletics chief Sebastian Coe sets high bar for Beijing 2027

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has expressed high expectations for the 2027 World Athletics Championships, calling the competition's return to Beijing a "poignant moment" for his career.

Speaking to CGTN at the ongoing the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Coe highlighted a "lovely symmetry" to next year's event, noting that his Presidency began at the Bird's Nest (National Stadium) in 2015 and will conclude there in 2027.

"I started in the Bird's Nest and I finish in the Bird's Nest," Coe remarked, praising the sport's "world-class" partnership with China.

His primary goal for the event is clear – shattering attendance records. "The most important expectation is we must have a full stadium," Coe emphasized. "China is very capable of doing that."

The track and field chief described China as a "massively important market," both commercially and for the growth of the sport. He noted that the country has become a strategic hub for athletics, hosting a succession of major events including the World Relays in Guangzhou and World Indoor Championships in Nanjing.

"China is very, very important to us," he said, pointing to a "high level of investment" in high-performance and sprint centers as evidence of a "strategic imperative" from the nation's sports authorities.

Ultimately, Coe believes the athletes themselves are the driving force behind the excitement. "I know from having spoken to the athletes ... they're really excited about being back in China," he concluded. "We will have the best of the best in Beijing."