Curtain comes down on fantastic World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24

After three thrilling days of competition, the curtain has come down on the 19th edition of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow.

Some 650 athletes from more than 130 countries fought hard to claim the 26 world indoor championship titles with the USA topping the table with an impressive 20 medals.

With 20 reigning world champions and seven gold medallists from the Tokyo Olympics, the calibre of competition lived up to the hype for the 22,000 spectators who attended across the six action packed sessions.

Among the many world-class performances was Great Britain’s Josh Kerr’s win in the Men’s 3000m in front of an ecstatic home crowd, the first Scot to win world indoor gold in 31 years. Netherland’s Femke Bol broke her own world indoor Women’s 400m record and set the first world record of the championships as well as the first on the new Glasgow track.

Grant Holloway of the United States retained his world indoor crown with his 76th consecutive win over 60m hurdles, while Julien Alfred made history for St Lucia after winning the Women’s 60m and claiming the country’s first-ever senior global championships medal.

In the field events Armand Duplantis retained his world crown. USA’s Ryan Crouser’s win in the Men’s shot put ensured he completed his title collection, alongside his Olympic and world outdoor titles.

On Sunday, from Thea LaFond winning Dominica's first global medal as she took triple jump gold in the morning session, to an 800m silver for hometown girl Jemma Reekie and all the excitement of the relays, the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 ended on a high.

The baton now passes to Nanjing, China who will host the 20th World Athletics Indoor Championships in 2025.

Alongside the world class sporting action on the track, organisers have been striving to set a new benchmark for international sporting events by implementing best practice in sustainability, equality, diversity, and inclusion and increasing opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity locally.

Volunteer and staff wellbeing has also been a key priority with organisers keen to raise awareness of good mental health. More than 800 staff and volunteers received mental health training to help them deliver a mentally healthy event for themselves, athletes, officials and spectators. The project, developed the Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH), the event's charity partner, was a first of its kind for an event in Scotland.

Organisers also partnered with a food bank in the city’s east end to redistribute all excess food from the event, a partnership that will now be implemented by all future events hosted at the arena by Glasgow Life.

It is hoped that a number of these Glasgow led initiatives will serve as a blueprint for future iterations of the championships.

World Athletics president, Sebastian Coe, said: "Thank you Glasgow and Scotland for delivering a fantastic 19th edition of the World Athletics Indoor Championships. Athletics has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the city over many years and this has been another magnificent showcase for our sport.

"Glasgow’s commitment to innovation and legacy from major sporting event is second to none. The installation of a brand-new track has ensured stellar performances from the world’s best athletes and will now give the next generation of local athletes the opportunity to train and compete on same track as their world championship heroes.

"To the 500 plus volunteers, officials and staff a sincere thank you to each and every one of you for the essential role you played in the delivery of the championships, this event simply would not have been a success without you."

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, echoed Coe’s sentiment. She said: "What an exhilarating and action-packed three days we’ve had here in Glasgow. Once again, a major sporting body has put their trust in us to host a world-class event and we are proud to have more than delivered.

"Events like the World Athletics Indoor Championships are important for our international profile and to our economy, but we never lose sight of their role in helping us to achieve our vision of harnessing the power of sport and physical activity to enhance wellbeing and change lives for the better."

"The complementary initiatives to encourage more physical activity, particularly among children and young people pre and post event demonstrates our commitment to delivering a positive and lasting legacy in our local communities."

Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development Kaukab Stewart said: "The World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 2024 has provided a truly memorable three days of sporting action.

"The Scottish Government is proud to have worked with partners to deliver another world class event. Like the 2023 UCI Cycling Championships last summer, it has showcased all Glasgow and Scotland has to offer to a global audience.

"Hosting major events like this also provides an opportunity to inspire the next generation to get involved in sport and perhaps become the future Scottish stars of track and field.”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events, said: "Glasgow and Scotland’s reputation as the perfect stage for events has once again been reinforced by the successful hosting of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24.

"Over the three days of the championships, athletes and fans have had the chance to create wonderful memories, showing the power of events to connect, inspire and share memorable experiences.”

Esther Britten, Head of Major Events at UK Sport said: "Sport has the power to makes us prouder, happier, and more connected to each and the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 has certainly fulfilled this role.

"Our mission is to create extraordinary sporting moments that reach, unite, and inspire the nation and the audiences in Glasgow and those watching on the television worldwide have been treated to historic achievements as well as world records smashed.

"Glasgow has been a brilliant host, and I would like to thank the event partners, support staff, officials, volunteers and of course the athletes for a spectacle that sets the scene for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris this summer."

Ian Beattie MBE, Chair of UK Athletics, said: "The World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 has been a fantastic event. To have so many of the world’s top athletes competing here in the run up to this year’s Paris Olympic Games has ensured the competition has been of the highest quality.

"The Glasgow crowd also did not disappoint, creating an electric atmosphere inside the arena for every session, particularly when the home athletes were on the track. The roar of the crowd as Josh Kerr came down that home straight to claim the world 3000m title was truly something special.

"It has been a successful championship for the British Athletics team, and I’d like to congratulate the whole team, especially Josh, Molly Caudery, Jemma Reekie and the Women’s 4x400m Relay team on their medal winning performances."

Thank you to all our event supporters and suppliers for helping to make this event possible.