A goose named Goosia, representing the region&rsquo;s identity and traditions, will be the mascot of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26.
The name of the mascot was confirmed following a fan contest. The winner &ndash; Tomasz Wolniewicz &ndash; will receive two tickets for one of the sessions during the championships, which takes place at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena Toruń from 20-22 March.
The preparations for one of Poland&rsquo;s most important sports events in 2026 are in full swing. Creating and naming a mascot that tells the story of the region&rsquo;s heritage has been one of the key steps.
&ldquo;I am pleased that our mascot finally has a name,&rdquo; said Piotr Całbecki, Marshal of the Kujawy Pomorze Region. &ldquo;It will be an important symbol of these championships. I hope that the winner chooses tickets for their dream session and will cheer on Polish athletes with all their heart.&rdquo;
WIC Kujawy Pomorze 26 CEO Krzysztof Wolsztyński said: &ldquo;Goosia is a name that combines a Polish female name with a reference to the English word goose. It&rsquo;s a creative linguistic concept and will certainly be easy for visitors to pronounce. We will check that during the Orlen Copernicus Cup, which will take place in Toruń on 22 February.&rdquo;
Above all, having a goose mascot expresses the strong regional identity of the Kujawy Pomorze region, as geese have long been associated with both nature and culinary traditions of the area. A great example of this is 'St. Martin&rsquo;s Goose', promoting family celebrations during Poland&rsquo;s Independence Day and the preservation of regional heritage.
The goose has accompanied the people of this region for centuries, as a source of food, pride, and local identity. As early as the 19th century, geese from Kujawy Pomorze &ndash; especially the white Kołuda breed &ndash; gained recognition beyond the region. This breed was developed at the National Research Institute of Animal Production in Kołuda Wielka near Inowrocław and is now regarded as the best in Europe. For this reason, the Kujawy Pomorze region is often called Poland&rsquo;s goose heartland.
The World Athletics Indoor Championships will be another major &ndash; and the most significant &ndash; international athletics event held in the region. Every year, Toruń hosts Poland&rsquo;s top indoor meeting, the Copernicus Cup, and in Bydgoszcz the Irena Szewińska Memorial is held at the stadium. Both meetings have World Athletics Gold status.

World Athletics Indoor Championships

A goose named Goosia, representing the region’s identity and traditions, will be the mascot of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26.

Goosia revealed as mascot for WIC Kujawy Pomorze 26

Tickets are on sale for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 &ndash; the biggest sports event in Poland in 2026. The event will star the world&rsquo;s best track and field athletes as they compete at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena Toruń from 20-22 March.
The World Indoor Championships is yet another major athletics event taking place in the region, which in recent years has hosted competitions such as the European Athletics Indoor Championships and the European Team Championships. Every year, it also hosts prestigious meetings such as the Irena Szewińska Memorial in Bydgoszcz and the Copernicus Cup &ndash; Poland&rsquo;s top indoor meeting &ndash; in Toruń. 
Both events hold World Athletics Gold status. Toruń and Bydgoszcz also frequently host the Polish Championships (both indoor and outdoor), and both cities have previously staged European Championships &ndash; Toruń the indoor edition, and Bydgoszcz the team championships.
&ldquo;We expect great interest from fans, so we did everything we could to make as many seats as possible available to the public. Of course, there are limitations &ndash; we had to allocate areas for athletes, media and guests from around the world,&rdquo; says Piotr Całbecki, Marshal of the Kujawy Pomorze Region.
In total, almost 3000 tickets will be available for each of the six sessions, and tickets can be purchased on eBilet.pl. The first pool of tickets went on sale on Monday, while the next release is scheduled for early next year.
&ldquo;Ticket prices depend on the location in the arena and the specific session. The venue has been divided into three categories &ndash; Level II, Level I, and VIP stands. The cheapest ticket, for the opening session of the championships, costs 100 PLN. Depending on the comfort and view from the chosen seat, the price increases,&rdquo; said Krzysztof Wolsztyński, Vice President of the Polish Athletics Association. Special VIP tickets have also been created.
The competition gets under way on 20 March. Morning sessions will begin at 10:05am each day, while afternoon sessions will start at 6:35pm on Friday and Saturday, and 5:40pm on Sunday. The first medals &ndash; in the women&rsquo;s high jump &ndash; will be awarded during the opening session of the championships.

Tickets are on sale for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26

Tickets on sale now!

A goose, the symbol of the region and its traditions, but also of sport, will be the mascot of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26. A contest to choose a name for the friendly goose is now underway, and the prize is two tickets to any session of the championships.
&ldquo;Our region is famous for its goose meat and the festival whose next edition will take place on 10-11 November in Przysiek near Toruń. Choosing the mascot was, therefore, an easy decision. The World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 will be a truly exceptional event, not only a celebration of sport, but also an opportunity to showcase the identity and unique character of our region. We want to present Kujawy Pomorze Region to the world in the best possible way&rdquo;, says Piotr Całbecki, Marshal of the Kujawy Pomorze Region.
Where did the idea for the cheerful goose come from? Above all, it&rsquo;s an expression of strong regional identity, since geese have long been associated with Kujawy Pomorze Region, both as part of the natural landscape and in culinary traditions. The best example is the &ldquo;Goose for St. Martin&rsquo;s Day&rdquo; celebration, which promotes spending the holiday season together with family during Poland&rsquo;s Independence Day and celebrating regional heritage. For centuries, the goose has accompanied the people of this region, serving as a source of food, pride, and local identity.
The tradition of goose breeding in Kujawy Pomorze Region dates back to the Middle Ages. Favorable natural conditions, including lakes and clean rivers, fostered the development of goose farming. The birds were raised naturally, in harmony with the rhythm of nature. By the 19th century, geese from this region, especially the Biała Kołudzka (White Kołuda) breed, began to gain recognition beyond its borders. This breed was developed at the National Research Institute of Animal Production in Kołuda Wielka near Inowrocław, and today it&rsquo;s considered one of the best in Europe. It&rsquo;s not only a hallmark of the region but also one of its most valuable export products. Thanks to this, the Kujawy Pomorze Region is sometimes called &ldquo;Poland&rsquo;s Goose Basin.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Today, the goose is a symbol of regional pride and quality, connecting past and present, tradition and modernity. The Kujawy Pomorze Region show that local heritage can become a brand recognized across Europe&rdquo;, adds Całbecki. Geese can also be seen as symbols of athletes, highly resilient creatures that travel thousands of kilometers during migration, embodying determination, endurance, and strength, key values in athletics.
&ldquo;Until now, mascots of major sporting events have often featured popular predators such as eagles, lions, or cheetahs. A goose is a fresh, unexpected, and distinctive choice that will make our championships truly memorable. It&rsquo;s important to remember that a mascot is not just a symbol but also a way to engage fans and participants. The goose will be present at events, building an emotional connection with sports fans and encouraging fun and interaction, especially among children and families&rdquo;, emphasizes Krzysztof Wolsztyński, Vice President of the Polish Athletics Association.
Details of the contest can be found in the &bdquo;Rules&rdquo; section.

News about the mascot naming contest

Choose the name for the mascot!

Starting from Monday 27 October, fans can buy tickets for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 - and they'll have to act fast, because the world's greatest athletes will be competing there.
Pole vault superstar Mondo Duplantis is among the standout athletes to have already announced an intention to compete at the championships, which will be held from 20-22 March 2026. Duplantis, the world and Olympic champion, set his first of 14 world records at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena in Toruń.
With less than half a year to go, we&rsquo;re well on track &mdash; and we&rsquo;re preparing plenty of surprises for both athletes and fans,&rdquo; said Piotr Całbecki, Marshal of the Kujawy Pomorze Region. "We want the world of athletics to once again see that events in Kujawy Pomorze are truly something special. After all, we&rsquo;ve already hosted quite a few major competitions in recent years."
As the 150-day milestone approaches in the countdown to the championships, it has also been revealed that Polish combined events star Adrianna Sułek-Schubert will be one of the event's official ambassadors.
The 2022 world indoor pentathlon silver medallist says that as an ambassador, she plans to inspire the next generation of athletes while championing healthy living and sustainability.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll be visiting schools to promote the championships and to encourage children to lead active, healthy lives,&rdquo; she explains. &ldquo;I also want to raise awareness about protecting the environment and using reusable containers. I&rsquo;m truly excited that these championships will take place in our beautiful Kujawy Pomorze Region. I&rsquo;m counting on the incredible support of our fans &mdash; and I&rsquo;ll be fighting for a medal on my home turf.&rdquo;
Ticket sales for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 2026 open to the public on Monday 27 October, while volunteer registration closes the week before. More than 700 people have already applied to join the volunteer team &mdash; and not just from Poland.
&ldquo;That&rsquo;s actually more than we need, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean there&rsquo;s no room for more!&rdquo; says Całbecki. &ldquo;Anyone who applies in the next few days still has a chance to take part in an unforgettable experience, helping to organise one of the world&rsquo;s top athletics events.&rdquo;
Fans eager to witness world-class competition up close will be able to purchase tickets in two phases.
&ldquo;The first phase begins on 27 October, and the second will launch early next year,&rdquo; explains Krzysztof Wolsztyński, Vice President of the Polish Athletics Association. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re working hard to make as many tickets available as possible so that fans from the Kujawy Pomorze Region &mdash; and from across Poland and beyond &mdash; can be part of this historic occasion. We&rsquo;re confident we can prepare about 3000 tickets per session.&rdquo;
Fans who register early at www.wickujawypomorze26.com and sign up as World Athletics subscribers will gain exclusive access to the pre-sale.
During Thursday&rsquo;s press conference, organisers also unveiled the official mascot of the championships &mdash; a goose, one of the beloved symbols of the Kujawy Pomorze Region. The goose embodies the spirit of competition, local heritage, and the values of athletics.
&ldquo;Our region is famous for its traditional goose dishes and the annual Goose Festival, which takes place on 10&ndash;11 November in Przysiek near Toruń,&rdquo; says Całbecki. &ldquo;So the choice of mascot came naturally &mdash; but now it needs a name! We&rsquo;re launching a contest to name our goose, and the winner will receive two tickets for a session of their choice at the championships. It&rsquo;s definitely worth joining in!&rdquo;
Details of the naming contest are available on the official championship website and the event&rsquo;s social media channels.

Ticket sales, ambassador, mascot WIC Kujawy Pomorze 26

Ticket sales, ambassador and mascot launched for WIC Kujawy Pomorze 26 

The qualification systems for three 2026 World Athletics Series events have been published, following their approval by the World Athletics Council in Tokyo:
&bull; World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 (20-22 March 2026) &bull; World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 (2-3 May 2026) &bull; World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 (5-9 August 2026) 
The qualification window for the World Indoor Championships in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland, runs from 1 November 2025 to 8 March 2026, with qualification based on entry standards and top indoor performance lists.&nbsp;
Individual athletes (except for combined events) can qualify in one of three ways:
&bull; By achieving the entry standard within the qualification period &bull; By World Indoor Tour wild card &bull; By virtue of their position in the top performances list
A Road to Kujawy Pomorze list will be published every week on the World Athletics website, starting from 1 December 2025.
<a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/68e618104372a24493d75cf0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full WIC Kujawy Pomorze 26 qualification system and entry standards</a> 
The top eight teams in the relay events at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 automatically qualified for the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana. The remaining spots will be filled via top lists from 1 January 2025 to 5 April 2026, with host nation Botswana automatically entered in all events. A maximum of 24 teams will be entered in each event. In the mixed 4x100m, all 24 teams will be selected from top lists.
The World Relays in Gaborone will be the main qualification event for relay events at the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest and the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing. The top six teams in the mixed 4x100m and mixed 4x400m in Gaborone qualify for Budapest, while the top 12 teams in every event in Gaborone qualify for Beijing.
<a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/69813399354a558fc3af16b6.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full WRE Gaborone 26 qualification system</a> 
For the World U20 Championships in Oregon, USA, the qualification system is solely based on entry standards, with a qualification period running from 1 October 2025 to 26 July 2026. The event will feature the addition of the mixed 4x100m and the 5000m race walk, which will replace the 10,000m race walk.
<a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/68e6185d4372a24493d75cf6.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full WU20 Oregon 26 qualification system and entry standards</a>
&nbsp;
This press release was updated on 2 February 2026 to include a new version of the WRE Gaborone 26 qualification system
&nbsp;

The qualification systems for three 2026 World Athletics Series events have been published, following their approval by the World Athletics Council in Tokyo

Qualification systems for WIC Kujawy Pomorze 26, WRE Gaborone 26 and WU20 Oregon 26 published

The countdown to the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 officially began on Monday (22) with the unveiling of a clock in front of the Marshal&rsquo;s Office of the Kujawy Pomorze Region &ndash; a spot visited daily by residents.
During the ceremony, Marshal Piotr Całbecki emphasised that preparations for the global athletics event are entering their most intensive stage. He also reflected on his recent trip to the World Championships in Tokyo. &ldquo;I am delighted that we came up with the idea of the countdown clock. It allows residents of our city and region to see exactly how much time remains until the championships. It is also a reminder to our team to accelerate our preparations. This is a major event for the entire region, and we will work to ensure that Kujawy Pomorze becomes a region recognised worldwide,&rdquo; said Marshal Całbecki.
Organising the World Indoor Championships requires the collaboration of many stakeholders across multiple areas. The Polish Athletics Association is supporting the effort with expertise and guidance. &ldquo;Our federation is well known for hosting major international competitions, and we are happy to share our experience,&rdquo; said Krzysztof Wolsztyński, Vice President of the Polish Athletics Association. &ldquo;We can confirm that ticket sales will open at the end of October, and on 16 October we will reveal the official mascot, which will accompany us in the run-up to the championships.&rdquo;
With the clock now ticking, the final countdown to one of the region&rsquo;s most significant sporting events is officially underway.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/68e57b1ad22b9e5c1e8e4e9d.jpg" alt="Clock is ticking!" />
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The unveiling of a countdown clock in front of the Marshal’s Office of the Kujawy Pomorze Region 

Clock is ticking, it's the final countdown!

With seven months to go to the start of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26, <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-indoor-championships/kujawypomorze26/timetable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the timetable for the event</a> has been released.
The three-day competition, which will be held at the Arena Torun from Friday 20 March to Sunday 22 March 2026, will get underway with action in the men's heptathlon on the morning of the first day. That first session will also feature the women&rsquo;s high jump final, while the first champions on the track will be crowned later that evening in the men&rsquo;s 60m final.
Both 3000m events will be held as straight finals on Saturday evening, while the 1500m finals take place on Sunday, allowing athletes to double up in those disciplines, should they wish to do so.
The women&rsquo;s pentathlon will take place throughout the final day of action, while the championships conclude with the men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s 4x400m relays.
Reflecting the programmes from the past five editions, the championships will feature straight finals in the field events and medallists will be decided during all six sessions.
Inaugurated in 1987, the World Indoor Championships will celebrate its 21st edition next year. More than 500 athletes from about 120 teams are expected to compete at the 2026 edition.
World Athletics
&bull; <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-indoor-championships/kujawypomorze26/timetable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 timetable</a>

With seven months to go to the start of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26, the timetable for the event has been released.

Timetable released for World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26

The World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 will be held in Toruń in March next year. An official agreement confirming the event was signed by the Marshal of the Kujawy Pomorze Region, Piotr Całbecki, and the Mayor of Toruń, Paweł Gulewski.
&ldquo;This is a very important morning for us &ndash; not only in the context of sports, but also as a moment that confirms the realisation of a project that began several months ago, preparations for a major international event, the World Athletics Indoor Championships, which will take place from 20-22 March 2026. We have been looking forward to this for many years,&rdquo; said Gulewski. &ldquo;I am pleased that the main organiser, the local government of the Kujawy Pomorze Region, has agreed to extend our role and involvement beyond what was initially established with my predecessor. As the city, we are determined to be a strong and reliable partner &ndash; logistically, organisationally, and in terms of promotion and tourism. We are fully committed.&rdquo;
Mayor Gulewski also highlighted the work of a dedicated interdisciplinary team composed of representatives from both the regional and city governments. The agreement signed today is a direct result of this team's efforts. It covers financial support provided by the region for the modernisation of the venue. Gulewski also noted that, thanks to a resolution by the city council, the capital of the Toruń Sports Infrastructure company was increased. As a result, 5 million PLN from the city&rsquo;s 2024 budget has already been allocated to the replacement of the MONDO athletics track at the Arena Toruń &ndash; one of the key infrastructure upgrades.
&ldquo;This is a significant day in the next phase of preparations for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 in Toruń,&rdquo; said Całbecki. &ldquo;From 20-22 March 2026, our region &ndash; and all of Poland &ndash; will be at the centre of global athletics. This will be the most important sporting event ever held in our voivodeship, and among the top-tier cyclical athletics competitions in the world. Arena Toruń was built with this kind of milestone event in mind. You need to have an ambition in life &ndash; and make it happen. We&rsquo;re witnessing that today. I want to thank Mayor Gulewski for his generosity.&rdquo;
Under the newly signed cooperation agreement, the Kujawy Pomorze Region has committed 5,8 million PLN toward modernising the arena and adapting its infrastructure to meet the highest international standards.
The World Athletics Indoor Championships is a global event, focusing the world&rsquo;s best athletes and marking the most significant athletics event in the region&rsquo;s history &ndash; and the second of this scale ever held in Poland. It is expected to significantly raise the international profile of both Toruń and the Kujawy Pomorze Region, generating lasting benefits across sport, tourism, promotion and community development.
Arena Toruń was officially opened on 10 August 2014. Depending on the type of event, the venue can accommodate between 5195 seats (in its default sports configuration) and approximately 5705 with extended seating. In addition, the arena can host more than 2000 more spectators using floor seating or standing sections (up to 2800), depending on the setup. The venue is fully accessible and was designed without architectural barriers, allowing for the inclusion of people with disabilities in sports events and competitions.

The World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 will be held in Toruń in March next year. An official agreement confirming the event was signed by the Marshal of the Kujawy Pomorze Region, Piotr Całbecki, and the Mayor of Toruń, Paweł Gulewski.

Agreement with City of Toruń signed

Preparations for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 have officially begun with the event&rsquo;s logo being unveiled at a press conference on Thursday (27).
Marshal Piotr Całbecki and Krzysztof Wolsztyński, Vice-President of the Polish Athletics Association, attended today&rsquo;s press conference, where the World Athletics flag was also raised in front of the Marshal's Office building &ndash; a gesture to mark the handover of the championship to the host city.
Next year, Kujawy Pomorze region will host the world&rsquo;s top athletes as they compete for medals at the World Athletics Indoor Championships from 20-22 March. It will be the second time Poland has hosted the championships, but the first time it is being held in the Kujawy Pomorze region.
&ldquo;For years, we&rsquo;ve been demonstrating how important athletics is in our region. The World Athletics Indoor Championships will be the &lsquo;cherry on top&rsquo; of our achievements,&rdquo; said Całbecki. &ldquo;I want to express my gratitude to the athletes, as well as everyone involved in organising major athletics events in the region. Special thanks go to Krzysztof Wolsztyński, President of the Kujawy Pomorze Regional Athletics Association, who played a key role in bringing this event to our region.&rdquo;
&ldquo;There is no other region in the world that has hosted as many high-level athletics events as we have,&rdquo; emphasised Wolsztyński. &ldquo;The World Athletics Indoor Championships is the highest-profile event we can organise here, so in a sense, we've reached the pinnacle. We expect the best athletes from around the world, and we plan to craft a timetable that will keep Polish fans excited every day, cheering for our athletes."
The championships will also serve as an opportunity to promote a healthy lifestyle and physical activity throughout the region. &ldquo;We have many projects in mind to encourage health and physical activity among young people,&rdquo; added Całbecki. &ldquo;We will invite children and youth from all our municipalities to attend the opening and closing ceremonies.&rdquo;
During the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, which concluded on Sunday, a symbolic flag was handed over to the Polish delegation by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. The Polish delegation, including Anna Matuszewicz, Patryk Sieradzki, and local government representative Jacek Gajewski, Chairman of the Sports and Tourism Committee of the Kujawy Pomorze Regional Assembly, had the honour of bringing the flag back to Poland.
&ldquo;It was an incredible honour to represent our region and the people of Kujawy Pomorze at this event,&rdquo; said Jacek Gajewski. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m confident that our region is fully prepared to host these championships. We have excellent infrastructure and dedicated people who will make this an unforgettable event. We will seize this opportunity, which is a reward for our past efforts, and I am certain the championships will be a huge success.&rdquo;
Polish athletes are also excited about the chance to compete at the World Indoor Championships on home soil. Both Patryk Sieradzki and Anna Matuszewicz come from the Kujawy Pomorze Region, and they train and compete for local clubs.
"This is a great symbol and recognition of the hard work we put in every day," said Sieradzki. "Just a few days ago, we were on the other side of the world competting for medals, and next year we&rsquo;ll be competing at the same event right at home. This is an amazing opportunity. When I first started training, I never imagined I would have the chance to compete in such an event in our region. It motivates me to work even harder."
"It was disappointing when I didn&rsquo;t qualify for the 2021 European Indoor Championships, which were also held in Toruń," said Anna Matuszewicz. "I was young, but very ambitious, and I wanted to perform well in front of my home crowd. Now, I&rsquo;m making progress in the senior ranks and getting closer to the top. I hope I&rsquo;ll get the chance to compete in this prestigious indoor event right here in Kujawy Pomorze region."
With less than a year to the event, organisers are already hard at work to ensure that every aspect of the World Athletics Indoor Championships meets the highest standards. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve already had an initial visit from the World Athletics delegation, and we've received their feedback, suggestions, and detailed reports,&rdquo; said Wolsztyński. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s still a lot of work ahead, but I&rsquo;m confident it will be an unforgettable event.&rdquo;
The World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 are shaping up to be a milestone in the region&rsquo;s sporting history, combining world-class competition with local enthusiasm and support.
<a href="https://identity.worldathletics.org/Registration?source=kujawypomorze26&amp;tag=kujawypomorze26" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Register now</a> for more information and advance access to ticket sales.
<a href="http://wickujawypomorze26.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wickujawypomorze26.com</a>

Preparations for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 have officially begun with the event’s logo being unveiled at a press conference

Logo unveiled for WIC Kujawy Pomorze 26

European indoor silver medallist Jakub Szymanski got his season off to a tremendous start at the CMCM Luxembourg Indoor Meeting, clocking 7.41 in the 60m hurdles at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver fixture on Sunday (19).
The meeting record tumbled three times throughout the course of the competition. Belgium&rsquo;s Elie Bacari broke it with 7.51 in the first heat, then Szymanski bettered it in the second heat with 7.46, equalling his own Polish record.
Just an hour later, Szymanski went even quicker to win the final in 7.41, finishing 0.14 ahead of Bacari. Szymanski now moves to equal second on the European all-time list.
It was one of nine disciplines in which the meeting record was broken.
Spain&rsquo;s Elvin Josue Canales achieved the feat in the men&rsquo;s 800m, striding to victory in a national indoor record of 1:44.65 to win comfortably from Poland&rsquo;s Bartosz Kitlinski (1:45.75). Canales moves to just outside the top 10 on the world indoor all-time list.
Home sprint star Patrizia van der Weken delighted the home crowd by producing two national indoor records. She won the 60m in 7.07, then clocked 23.17 in the 200m to finish second behind Germany&rsquo;s Jessica-Bianca Wessolly, who won in a meeting record of 22.84.
South Africa&rsquo;s Marione Fourie took the women&rsquo;s 60m hurdles final in 7.98 after clocking a meeting record of 7.91 in the heats.
Marta Zenoni set an Italian indoor record of 4:03.59 to win the women&rsquo;s 1500m in what was perhaps the most dominant victory of the competition. Belgium&rsquo;s Pieter Sisk (3:36.71) and Germany&rsquo;s Florian Bremm (7:39.01) set meeting records in winning the men&rsquo;s 1500m and 3000m respectively.
There were also meeting records for European champion Angelica Moser in the pole vault (4.65m) and Bulgarian long jumper Plamena Mitkova (6.55m).
<h2>Hoey clocks North American 1000m record, Mihambo and Yemisi open seasons</h2>
On a busy weekend of indoor action, Josh Hoey produced one of the standout performances.
The 800m specialist, who last month ran 3:52.61 for the mile, smashed his 1000m PB with a 2:14.48 run at the Quaker Invitational in Philadelphia. It broke the North American indoor record that Marco Arop set last year, and elevated Hoey to second on the world indoor all-time list, just 0.28 shy of Ayanleh Souleiman's world indoor record.
At the Corky Classic in Lubbock, Olympic champion Masai Russell got her 2025 campaign under way with a 7.89 run in the 60m hurdles, her fastest ever season opener.
Another Olympic champion, Yemisi Ogunleye, also opened her season last weekend. The German shot putter was a convincing winner of her discipline at the Sparkassen Indoor Meeting in Dortmund on Saturday (18), throwing 18.98m to defeat Alina Kenzel (18.16m).
At the same meeting, two-time world champion Malaika Mihambo won the long jump with 6.79m.
In Vaxjo on Friday (17), 20-year-old Erik Erlandsson made a notable breakthrough to win the 200m in 20.43, smashing the long-standing Swedish record and moving up to equal sixth on the European indoor all-time list.

European indoor silver medallist Jakub Szymanski got his season off to a tremendous start at the CMCM Luxembourg Indoor Meeting

Szymanski and Canales impress in Luxembourg

The World Athletics Council has today (22)&nbsp;awarded the 2024 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships to Antalya in Turkiye and the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships to Torun in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region of Poland.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: &ldquo;Both Turkiye and Poland have established good records as hosts of international athletics events. Turkiye most recently hosted the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Istanbul this month, despite the hardships created by the recent earthquake, while Poland is a regular host of World Athletics Series events, having staged the World Athletics Relays in Silesia in 2021 and the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships in Gdynia in 2020, underlying their commitment to our sport on a global level.&rdquo;
This will be the second time that Turkiye has hosted a World Athletics Series event, following the 2012 World Athletics Indoor Championships, held in Istanbul. Some 500 athletes from 50 countries are expected to compete in Antalya next year in what will be a qualifying event for the Paris Olympic Games.
Fatih Cintimar, President of the Turkish Athletics Federation, said: &ldquo;The fact that a World Athletics Championships will be hosted in Antalya is very important in terms of raising awareness of athletics in Turkiye, gaining new athletics fans and increasing the popularity of athletics. We hope to gain great momentum for our sport by hosting the World Race Walking Team Championships.&rdquo;
Torun, in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region of Poland, is a well-known destination for leading international athletes as the host of the Copernicus Cup, a popular annual stop on the World Athletics Indoor Tour, where Mondo Duplantis set his first world pole vault record in 2020, and of the European Athletics Indoor Championships in 2021.
Piotr Calbecki, Marshall of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Region, which will co-host the championships with Torun, said: &ldquo;We&rsquo;re very proud that&nbsp;the Kuyavian-Pomeranian&nbsp;Region has been selected as the host of the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships. This will be the highlight of our long-term co-operation with the local authorities of Torun, Bydgoszcz and the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Athletics Association. For us, the World Indoor Championships will be the cherry on top. The 2026 World Indoor Championships, held in Arena Torun, will be an excellent opportunity to promote our region on an unprecedented scale.&rdquo;
Henryk Olszewski, President of the Polish Athletic Association, added: "I am pleased that Poland has been awarded another great athletics event. I am convinced that the&nbsp;Kuyavian-Pomeranian&nbsp;Region&nbsp;will be an exemplary host, and in 2026 in Arena Torun, they will organise the best World Athletics Indoor Championships in history.&rdquo;
The Council also received updates on other upcoming World Athletics Series events. The Local Organising Committee for the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 reported that their preparations were on track for August&rsquo;s championships.
World Athletics

The World Athletics Council has awarded the 2024 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships to Antalya in Turkiye and the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships to Torun in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region of Poland

World Athletics awards events to Turkiye and Poland

The next edition of the World Athletics Indoor Championships is coming to Kujawy Pomorze, Poland, on 20-22 March 2026!
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