The 17th IAAF World Indoor Championships was held from 1 to 4 March 2018 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. This was the city's second hosting of the event as it previously did so in 2003.
The qualification period for all events runs from 1 January 2017 to 19 February 2018 (midnight Monaco time), except for the Combined Events where the qualification period runs from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017 and the five best athletes from the 2018 Indoor Lists (as at 12 February 2018). Twelve athletes will be invited in the Heptathlon and in the Pentathlon as follows: the winner of the 2017 Combined Events Challenge. One athlete which may be invited at the discretion of the IAAF. In total no more than two male and two female athletes from any one Member will be invited. Upon refusals or cancellations, the invitations shall be extended to the next ranked athletes in the same lists respecting the above conditions.[7]
This championship was notable for the large number of disqualifications, primarily lane violations (IAAF rule 163.3(a)). One entire heat of the Men's 400 metres was disqualified, a World Championship first. Some athletes appeared to have difficulty with the steep banking of the track. Accusations were raised about the heavy handedness of the officiating and inconsistencies relative to similar acts committed by star British athletes at the 2017 Outdoor World Championships held in London just 5 and a half months earlier.[36]
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