On November 22, 2025, the Worldwide Affiliation of Ultrarunners (IAU) introduced the postponement of the 2025 IAU 50k World Championshipsinitially scheduled for December 7, in New Delhi, India. Though a brand new date hasn’t been set, the IAU has said that it’s going to announce one inside the subsequent week.
The ladies’s podium from the 2023 IAU 50k World Championships held in Hyderabad, India. Picture courtesy of the Worldwide Affiliation of Ultrarunners.
In a press launchthe IAU stated that the choice was made after discussions with the Athletics Federation of India and the native organizing committee. The cancellation, simply two weeks earlier than the occasion, is probably going the results of worsening air high quality within the metropolis. In latest days, India’s Supreme Court docket, supported by the Fee for Air High quality Administration within the space, has additionally requested that each one faculties cancel out of doors actions for the subsequent one to 2 months.
Poor air high quality within the space is widespread in November and December, with historic high-quality particulate air high quality numbers spiking to just about 300 elements per million (ppm) yearly since 2015. Winter-time inversions result in the buildup of pollution across the New Delhi space, which has a inhabitants of over 30 million folks. A number of elements mix to extend the variety of pollution within the air, together with farmers burning their fields in preparation for the spring.
Within the days main as much as the cancellation announcement, the Air High quality Index in New Delhi was 370 ppm, which is nicely inside the vary thought of extreme. The IAU stated, “Whereas we acknowledge the numerous effort and preparation invested by athletes, coaches, and federations, the well being and security of all individuals should stay our highest precedence.”
Nationwide groups can be allowed to vary their groups till December 21.
(Editor’s Word: We’ll replace this text when a brand new date for the occasion is about.)
