For athletes, the World Athletics Championship is the pinnacle of their sport. For the spectators it offers an unmissable spectacle, featuring some of the best track and field athletes in the world competing for medals and titles over nine days.

The event was first held in 1976, originally on a four-year cycle but now every two years. The Championships are staged in odd-numbered years to avoid clashing with the Olympic Games, which take place on a quadrennial basis in even-numbered years.

The 2023 edition is taking place in Budapest and features a record number of athletes, including a total of 240 women and 454 men. Among them, 19 current Olympians and 67 world champions will be seeking to add to their medal haul at the prestigious meet.

As usual, the most compelling stories will come from the track events. Among the most anticipated contests is the men’s 4x400m relay, which will feature defending champions Jamaica and the Netherlands, along with the United States and Great Britain.

In the women’s 1500m, defending champion Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas takes on 2022 world champions and top-ranked runners including Mary Moraa, Faith Kipyegon and Kenya’s Mercy Chelanga. Also in the mix is Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa, who is bidding for a fourth straight world title at this distance.