World Athletics has announced the expansion of its air quality monitoring programme, the first major sports federation to implement systematic, multi-continental air pollution monitoring at elite competitions.
The second phase of the ‘Running for Clean Air’ initiative, launched this week at the World Indoor Championships, will monitor air quality at five major athletics events across three continents over the next two years.
Funded by the Clean Air Fund, the programme addresses a growing concern for athletes and recreational runners alike: the impact of air pollution on performance and health. During intense exercise, athletes breathe up to ten times more air than at rest, making them particularly vulnerable to pollutants such as PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Phase one of the initiative deployed air quality sensors in Warsaw, Poland and Lagos, using city marathons as platforms for data collection and public awareness. In Lagos, local ambassadors now organise monthly fitness drives combining exercise with education about air quality.
Phase two significantly expands both the scale and scientific ambition of the project. Over the next two years, static and mobile monitoring equipment will be deployed at five competitions:
- World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana (2-3 May 2026)
- Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok (November 2026 and December 2027)
- Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich in Spain (December 2026 and December 2027)
Air quality data is collected in two phases:
Air quality data is collected over six months prior to the event, to collect background information and identify local trends. During the event itself, dynamic monitoring captures changes in air quality on the race course and at the finish line.
The equipment measures pollutants of major public health concern, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone. Real-time data dashboards will be accessible to athletes, event organisers and the public.
The initiative goes beyond data collection. At each competition, World Athletics will deliver athlete education programmes, volunteer training on air quality awareness, community engagement activities, and scientific research designed for peer-reviewed publication.
A position paper on air quality thresholds and risk management will be shared with all 214 World Athletics Member Federations, helping to establish global standards for protecting athletes in polluted environments.
The programme is led by the World Athletics Health and Science Department in collaboration with partners including engineering firm Arup, air quality technology company Kunak, and public health organisation UrbanBetter.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: ‘At World Athletics, we believe that protecting athlete health is not optional. It is fundamental to our mission. ‘Running for Clean Air’ phase two marks a defining moment: for the first time, a major sports federation is systematically monitoring air quality across multiple continents and competition types. We are not just measuring the air our athletes breathe. We are setting a global standard for how sport takes responsibility for the environments in which it is performed.’
Dr. Stéphane Bermon, Director of the Health and Science Department at World Athletics, said: ‘Athletes push their bodies to the absolute limit in pursuit of excellence. They breathe up to 10 times more air during competition than at rest, which means air quality is not an abstract environmental concern. It is a direct performance and health variable. The data we generate across Gaborone, Bangkok and Valencia will be transformative for World Athletics, for our Member Federations, and for the broader sports community.’
Jane Burston OBE, founder and CEO of Clean Air Fund, added: ‘Air pollution is a public health crisis that affects every part of our lives, including the sports we love. Athletes train for years to reach the highest levels of performance, and they deserve to compete in environments that support their health. This initiative is bringing much-needed attention to the critical role of clean air in sport. Clean Air Fund is proud to support work that protects athletes and delivers healthier air for communities around the world.’
Photo: Mike Cox
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