2019 World Athletics Championships — 2019 edition of the World Championships in Athletics
The 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha marked the first time the event was held in the Middle East, with 1,772 athletes from 206 nations competing.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 17th (seventeenth)
- Athletes
- 1,772 athletes
- Participating teams
- 206 teams
- Events contested
- 49 events
- World records set
- 3
- Nations on medal table
- 43 nations
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The IAAF awarded the 2019 World Athletics Championships to Doha, Qatar, marking the first time the event was staged in the Middle East. The city's extreme heat necessitated scheduling changes, with no morning sessions and long-distance road events starting around midnight to protect athlete safety.
Held from 27 September to 6 October 2019 at Khalifa International Stadium, the championships featured 1,772 athletes from 206 teams competing across 49 events over ten days. Three world records were set, and top performers included Joe Kovacs in the men's shot put and Malaika Mihambo in the women's long jump.
The championships drew criticism for sparse crowds, flat atmosphere, and logistical challenges related to heat, prompting debate about host-city selection criteria. Despite this, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe declared it the best championships in history based on performance quality. It was also the final edition before the IAAF rebranded as World Athletics.
Result
at Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar