The future of the IAAF meeting discussed the future of walking. It is certain that a 50km walk from 2022 at the latest will no longer be in the program of racing competitions !!! Furthermore, there will be a change in the length of pedestrian routes and the introduction of an electronic pedestrian style control system !!!

Pedestrian competitions should undergo significant changes. IAAF President Sebastian Coe said that after 2020, the organizers will choose between a distance of ten and twenty kilometers or a distance of thirty and fifty kilometers. The aim is to increase the attractiveness of walking disciplines for new audiences.

At the big World and European Championships, four sets of medals (two for men and two for women) will be distributed together in walking competitions, ie men will run two racing distances (eg 30 km for men and women and 10 km for men and women)   

The IAAF also supported the proposal that modern technologies should be introduced, including chips on the soles to assist judges in assessing the purity of walking style.

This will slow down the pace, for example, 20km will "walk" again around 1:25 am. How will the tables be redesigned? From then on, will new world, European, Czech records be recorded? There are still many unanswered questions. However, development cannot be stopped even on foot.

IAAF Board Decisions - Highlights in the overview:

- At the Grand Championships, ie the World and Europe, there will be a total of 4 races (two race tracks for men and two race tracks for women)

- Promoting the investment and development of an electronic pedestrian-style control system (eg chip technology in soles)

- Testing and trial of new pedestrian style control technology at the plants in 2020

- Two race tracks for men and women consisting of the following selection of tracks: 10km, 20km, 30km or 35km from 2022

Link: Press release from the IAAF Council meeting in DOHA "

Design of Electronic walking style control system - observance of contact with the ground