World Athletics plans to launch a standalone World Marathon Championships from 2030, with Athens in Greece potentially hosting the inaugural event.

The marathon will remain part of the World Athletics Championships in 2027 and 2029 but will then have its own annual championship, with men and women competing in alternate years, from 2030.

The annual Road Running Championships will continue as a separate event on the calendar under the new proposals.

Lord Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, said the sport’s governing body was “delighted” to be exploring options with Athens and called the marathon an “iconic discipline”.