Indoor track and field competition will be renamed ‘short track’ in a change by World Athletics which the governing body hopes will help grow the sport.
Indoor championships will remain but the move is intended to encourage “competition innovation”, with the traditional indoor 200m track providing flexibility for outdoor use in cities.
Performances on outdoor or temporary 200m tracks would be recognised as official results, including records.
It will come into effect on 1 November. World Athletics president Lord Coe said the change would open a “world of opportunities” for the sport and encourage growth through investment in new infrastructure.
“This change is designed to remove an unintentional barrier to competition innovation, by offering organisers the chance to explore solutions and opportunities which the current rules may discourage,” Coe said. “Under this new concept, the 200m short track will no longer be confined to the indoor environment, and a world of opportunities will open up for meeting organisers to stage official competition in whatever facilities they have available.” (BBC Sports)