World Athletics confirms new dates for 2027 Beijing Championships

The championships were initially scheduled for September 11 to 19, 2027, but the change allows the opening ceremony to be held on September 10 alongside the first competition session.

This also means athletes will have an evening competition session on each of the 10 days of the championships.

World Athletics is set to work with the local organising committee to develop the final competition timetable, which will subsequently require approval from the World Athletics Council.

The confirmation came as Beijing marked one year until the global athletics showpiece returns to the Chinese capital.

The 21st edition of the championships will see the world's leading athletes return to the iconic National Stadium, popularly known as the Bird's Nest, 12 years after Beijing successfully hosted the 2015 World Championships.

More than 2,000 athletes from around 200 World Athletics member federations are expected to compete across the 10-day championships.

New identity for Beijing 27

The one-year countdown also saw the unveiling of the championships' new visual identity, mascot and slogan.

The event logo, named Jingyue, draws inspiration from Beijing's Temple of Heaven and the Chinese character 'jing,' which represents the city's name. Its design incorporates brushstroke elements and a multicoloured running track, representing both Beijing's identity and the diversity of athletics.

The championships' mascot, Jingyan, draws inspiration from the swallow and pays tribute to the mascot used during the 2015 Beijing World Championships.

The concept represents the return of the World Championships to Beijing after 12 years, incorporating traditional Chinese kite patterns, Peking Opera-inspired elements and lightning motifs into its design.

The event will carry the slogan “Each Step Counts,” a message centred on perseverance and the importance of every stage of an athlete's journey.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe welcomed the preparations, thanking the local organising committee and the Chinese Athletics Association for their work towards staging the championships.

Beijing 2027 will therefore mark a return to a city that has already played host to some of athletics' most memorable global moments, with a new generation of athletes set to compete on the same stage where the sport's stars gathered in 2015.

For athletes targeting qualification, the countdown is now firmly on, with the road to Beijing ending on September 19, 2027, when the 21st World Athletics Championships conclude.