Athlos: Founders head to Downing Street as athletics meet eyes London future

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian is set to visit 10 Downing Street as the all-female athletics event Athlos prepares to make its long-term debut in London. The track and field showcase, which began in 2024 and has previously run in New York, is scheduled to take place at Saracens' Stone X stadium on Friday. Athlos will feature events including sprints, middle-distance races, and the long jump, with top talent such as Keely Hodgkinson competing.

Founders Kayla Green and Alexis Ohanian will be in Downing Street to advocate for London as a potential long-term host for the competition, praising the city's incredible fanbase. Ohanian previously mentioned that the London Diamond League, an event they attended in 2024, played a role in their decision to choose London as the first international city for Athlos.

Green highlighted that the UK fans are incredibly passionate about athletics, ensuring London's position as the top choice for their inaugural European meet. With around 10,000 spectators expected to attend the event in north London, future growth could depend on other stadiums in the city showing interest in hosting track and field events.

However, there have been discussions about the potential sale of London Stadium to West Ham United, which could lead to the destruction of the athletics track installed for the 2012 London Olympics. Green expressed Athlos' desire to expand in London, noting that the city's fanbase is eager for more athletics events. The event will be followed by a partnership with Cash App, allowing athletes to be paid within minutes of their race results.

This partnership comes in the wake of setbacks faced by another athletics startup, Grand Slam Track, which filed for bankruptcy during its first season due to unpaid athletes.