Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Coe Unveils 2026 Ultimate Team Championship With $10 Million Prize Purse

Television-driven sessions aim to attract new audiences.

Sebastian Coe (C) compares athletes going unrewarded at an Olympics to Taylor Swift being the only one not paid for a concert
Image
Sebastian Coe (2nd L), with Ukrainian high jump star Yaroslava Mahuchikh, was deeply marked by a visit to her war-wracked country
Sebastian Coe's final two years as World Athletics president promise to pack a punch

Overview

  • Scheduled for September 11-13, 2026, in Budapest, the inaugural Ultimate Team Championship pits athletes representing themselves and their national teams in three-hour sessions.
  • World Athletics has set a record $10 million prize purse for the event, reinforcing Coe’s push to improve athletes’ financial welfare.
  • Coe emphasizes the television-driven format to captivate new viewers and fill the gap between Olympic Games and world championships.
  • His presidency has also introduced prize money for Olympic gold medallists, despite pushback from the IOC hierarchy.
  • World Athletics continues to enforce a blanket ban on Russian athletes in response to the Ukraine invasion as Coe looks ahead to the Tokyo World Championships in September 2025.