The World Athletics Council will name hosts for the 2024 World Relays at its two-day meeting starting tomorrow in Rome ©Getty Images

The two-day World Athletics Council meeting that starts tomorrow in Rome will choose between Caribbean and European bids for the sixth edition of the World Relays in 2024, which will serve as a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The move follows the announcement in October that next year’s planned World Relays in Guangzhou had been postponed until April or May 2025 due to China’s continuing and now controversial COVID-19 policies.

After being hosted three consecutive times by Nassau in the Bahamas, in 2014, 2015 and 2017, the World Relays have been held in Yokohama, Japan in 2019 and Chorzow in Poland last year.

The European bidder for the 2024 World Relays, however, is not from Poland.

The World Athletics Council is set to hear an update from the chair of the Russia Taskforce Rune Andersen about a timetable for the nation's return to international competition ©Getty Images
The World Athletics Council is set to hear an update from the chair of the Russia Taskforce Rune Andersen about a timetable for the nation's return to international competition ©Getty Images

The Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) appears to be locked out of international competition for the foreseeable future while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine persists, but the Council will hear an update from the chair of the Russia Taskforce, Rune Andersen, on the progress of the reinstatement process, and some positive news is expected.

Council members will be scrutinising the timings of the athletics timetable at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with an eye on allowing athletes seeking to double up.

There will also be general discussion about the Paris 2024 qualification system.

Council members will also confirm dates for three forthcoming events - the World Cross Country Championships set for Medulin/Pula in 2024, the World Under-20 Championships due to be held in Lima in 2024, and the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships.