Event Summary

The 2025 Virtus World Athletics Championships 8-15 October 2025 is an international competition for elite athletes with an intellectual impairment.

Australia will welcome the world’s top competitors to go head-to-head in track and field events, showcasing sporting excellence of elite athletes with an intellectual impairment. Over 300 athletes and officials from more than 30 countries are expected to attend.

Bring your family and friends to cheer on the athletes. You can join us for one day or all four days of competition, as well as the Opening Ceremony - it's up to you!

The event is managed by Sport Inclusion Australia and competition conducted by Queensland Athletics.

It is proudly supported by the Australian Government, Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council.

Catch all the action – entry tickets Are FREE!

Opening Ceremony | Thursday 9 October 2025

It is with great pride that we invite you to join us for the Opening Ceremony of the 2025 Virtus World Athletics Championships, taking place on Thursday 9 October, at the Roma Street Parklands Amphitheatre, Brisbane.

Athlete Parade: 6:45pm
Ceremony Commences: 7:30pm
Ceremony Ends: 8:30pm

This event is more than a ceremony — it is a statement to the world that Brisbane and Australia are leaders in inclusion, diversity and respect. Together, we will honour our First Nations people through a powerful Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony and Traditional Dance, before welcoming athletes from over 30 nations in an extraordinary Athlete Parade accompanied by the Brisbane Boys’ College Pipe Band and St Joseph’s College Band.

The evening will showcase a spectacular blend of culture, performance and elite sport, with highlights including:

Graeme Isaako (MC) – celebrated performer of Aladdin and Jesus Christ Superstar
Fred Leone – Yirimi Gundir – Indigenous cultural performance
Cultural Performances by Logohu Bird of Paradise (Papua New Guinea Performance Group) and Mr Mr Australia (high-energy Polynesian dance and drumming),celebrating the first time some of our Oceania nations attend.
Sky Full of Stars, sung by Nethra Raman, featuring CK Academy, and the Madeline Stuart Dance Company

With AV Partner – Scene Change, this will be a night of powerful visuals, unforgettable performances, and international pride.

This is a world class moment as Brisbane hosts the world’s best athletes with an intellectual impairment, showcasing the power of sport to unite and inspire as we build towards Brisbane 2032.

Athletics Competition | 11-14 October 2025

The Championships will feature a full athletics program for II-1 athletes and with a growing program for II-2 and II-3 athletes, along with a dedicated II-1 youth program providing athletes with the experience of international competition and motivation to become the stars of the future.

Click here to view the Competition Schedule PDF