The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Race Walking Committee has recommendations which would see the distances of 20km and 50km reduced to 10km and 30km respectively from 2023 World Championships in Budapest. The IAAF Race Walking Committee claim a specific pathway has been outlined to give race walkers a three-year transition period to adapt and prepare for the new distances. A proposal to achieve implementing electronic chip insole technology from 2021 was also put forth. The insole technology, it is claimed, would help judges identify athletes who have not used the correct technique, with both feet leaving the ground. It was recommended that the technology would be adopted in 2021 if the necessary tests, introduction and distribution of the insole chips are concluded by the end of next year.
The recommendations were reportedly made after broad consultation and consideration of the feedback from Member Federations, athletes, event organisers and several stakeholders, including broadcasters.
It is claimed the proposals "reflect the reality" that the event programme across all major athletics meetings and events will become shorter and more dynamic.
Innovation was required in race walking to ensure it remains a discipline at the World Championships and Olympic Games, it is claimed by the IAAF.
Part of the issue might be a push for "total equality" between males/females, whereby they have to walk over the same distances. Female 50km has been notoriously under-represented to date. (Note that in IAAF, women still have shorter hurdles, lighter discuses, etc., so the "total equality" angle seems dubious)
Committee member Robert Korzeniowski, a three-time Olympic and three-time world champion in the 50km event, has defended the proposals.
As you know my heart is passionate about the 50km, and all the great achievements and medals I won were in 50km, but the world is changing fast and we need to be realistic, to move forward and be brave in order to be relevant with the broadcast and digital media and to secure the future of race walking in major competitions,"
Meanwhile, former British race walker Peter Marlow, who competed at the 1972 Olympics in Munich in the 20km event, resigned from the IAAF Race Walking Committee following the recommendations.
Also Tom Bosworth on the new technology: Athletes will cheat by doping, surely they’ll tamper with a chip. He also claimed the chip was not for the spectator's interest.
According to the schedule, though they say "senior events" will be changed by 2023, already for Oregon 2021 the 50km will have disappeared.
Event Men Women
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games 20km / 50km 20km*
Oregon 2021 World Athletics Championships 20km / 30km 20km / 30km
2022 Race Walking Team Championships 10km / 30km 10km / 30km
Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships 10km / 30km 10km / 30km
Paris 2024 Olympic Games 10km / 30km 10km / 30km