The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has expanded the qualification timeline for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by two months, allowing athletes additional opportunities to meet entry standards.
The revised schedule, approved by the IAAF Council in Doha, shifts the qualification period to begin May 1, 2019, and end June 29, 2020. This change applies to most events, with exceptions for the marathon and 50km race walk, which will close May 31, 2020, to provide more preparation time for competitors.
The new system combines traditional entry standards with a World Ranking System, allocating 50% of spots through performance benchmarks and 50% via rankings. Athletes can qualify either by achieving specified times during the window or by securing top positions in the IAAF World Rankings by the deadline.
IAAF officials emphasized collaboration with stakeholders, including athletes, coaches, and federations, to ensure clarity. Workshops will be held this year to explain the process. The council also finalized schedules for three 2020 World Athletics Series events, including the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, and the World Half Marathon Championships in Gdynia, Poland.
Doha, host of the 2019 World Athletics Championships, confirmed its commitment to organizing a high-level event. The city is also preparing for the Asian Athletics Championships in April as a test run for the global competition.
