BUDAPEST, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- With over a year remaining before the event's debut, World Athletics on Wednesday announced the brand identity for the inaugural Ultimate Championship and named Swedish pole vault legend Armand Duplantis as the event's first Ultimate Star.
Scheduled to take place in Budapest from September 11 to 13, 2026, the competition will bring together Olympic champions, world champions, Diamond League winners, and top-ranked athletes to compete for the title of ultimate champion.
According to World Athletics, the brand vision was developed by design agency FutureBrand and centered on the concept of "Class of One," emphasizing a fundamental focus on victory and unforgettable moments.
The visual identity, named "Star Flare", features a bold star symbol composed of three intersecting elements, representing running, jumping, and throwing, the core disciplines of athletics.
The brand's tone of voice incorporates traits such as "obsessive", "audacious", and "dramatic" to engage new audiences.
Olympic champion Duplantis, who set his 13th world record by clearing 6.29 meters in the men's pole vault at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial here in Budapest on Tuesday, was named Ultimate Star to promote the event through his interests in music, fashion, and art.
"It's an honor to light up Budapest. This event will showcase our sport like never before," said the 25-year-old Swedish star.
Staged over three evening sessions to ensure continuous excitement, the Ultimate Championship will feature 28 finals, including sprints, jumps, and the new mixed 4x100m relay.
The event will offer a prize pool of 10 million U.S. dollars, the largest in the history of track and field, with gold medalists receiving 150,000 dollars each.
"Every session will be packed with finals. Mondo and his peers will put on a show. The brand's audience-centric approach, including persona-driven experience design, aims to connect traditional and new fans alike," World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said. ■
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