What's new at the 2023 World Athletics Championships

This lane arrangement applies to the 100m events (Straight, as usually the 100m section is placed on the straightest part of the stadium), 200m and 400m.

In the 100m event, the 4 best athletes still run in lanes 3-4-5-6 as the old rule. But for the 200m event, the athletes with the best results from top to bottom will be ranked 5-6-7 (previously 3, 4, 5, 6). For the 400m, this order is 4-5-6-7.

The group of athletes with the next best performance-based ranking also changed the lane arrangement. Previously, the lane order for the next two positions was 7-8 (with 100m) for all three events, now it is 2-7 (100m), 3-4-8 (200m) and 3-8 (400m).

The two runners with the last place still run in lanes 1-2 as before with 200m and 400m. The order in the 100m event will change to 1-8, which means that the two lowest performing athletes will run in the outermost lanes, lanes 1 and 8.

The previous lane arrangement still applies to two multi-sport events, the heptathlon (7 pentathlon) and decathlon (10 pentathlon).

According to the old rules, the 1500m had qualifying (R1) and semi-finals (SF) and then the final. R1 will determine the next 24 places by dividing into four Heats to select the top five athletes of each Heat to advance to the semi-finals, the remaining four places for the next best athletes from all four Heats.

The 24 semi-finalists will be divided into two Heats to select 12 finalists. Accordingly, the top five athletes of each Heat go straight to the final. The remaining two draws will be chosen from the next best of both Heats.

But from this year's Budapest, the format for selecting the next athlete will change in both R1 and the semi-finals. Specifically, R1 still has four Heats, but the organizers take the top six athletes each Heat into the semi-finals. Similarly, in the semi-finals, from two Heats, the top six athletes from each Heat will advance to the finals.

Similarly for the distance of 3000m obstacle and 5000m, BTC will give up the next spots by considering the next best performance, which is always based on the ranking in the runs to choose the next place.

This rule will take effect in the semifinals and finals of all events, including on-court events (throw - push - jump) and relay. There will be no re-drawing of lanes, or rearranging the running order as before.

A virtual "hot seat" system will be implemented. The next best ranked athlete or relay team will be notified to await entry when another athlete or team withdraws. Two athletes or teams will be considered for each substitution.

Athletes can stay in this lounge for up to 20 minutes and will then be taken through the mix area. The lounge will have live broadcast cameras, and fans will be able to see the runners' reactions.

The starting referee has the right to allow one or more athletes to continue playing if there is doubt about the possibility of a starting error but the automatic sensor system does not signal. This referee can continue to let the athlete finish the content, and then announce the decision to the audience on the field or watching on television.

This factor is taken into account when the starting referee, based on personal experience, may cast doubt on the eligibility of the athlete in the starting action.

But from the upcoming Budapest, this regulation is lifted. However, athletes are only allowed to use no more than two personal tools to compete and these tools must still comply with the specifications as prescribed by the organizers.