The platform can be found on the World Athletics website and will provide educational courses and webinars for those with a general interest in the sport, such as school teachers and club volunteers.

Key stakeholder groups are also expected to benefit, including member federations, technical officials, coaches and medical professionals.

Initial courses are aimed at technical officials, organisers of athletics at club and community level and anyone who wants to know more about the rules of the sport.

Over the next year, World Athletics plans to introduce modules on sustainability and gender leadership training for member federations, health and science courses for medical specialists, and coaching certifications.

"This platform will provide a window into our world," said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.

"Among other objectives, it aims to provide the answer to any technical question about our sport that people might have wondered about but hesitated to ask.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for people to learn about our sport and to get more involved, whether as a technical official, elite, club or school coach or fan.

"Some 2,000 people complete technical official and coaching courses in athletics every year, but people have busy lives and having to attend a course in person can be a barrier to participation.

"This online knowledge centre will give many more people around the world the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of our sport, and to complete courses at their convenience and in an easily digestible format.

"I am confident that this platform will prove to be an invaluable resource for everyone interested in our sport over the coming years."

World Athletics says the platform is part of continued efforts to make the sport accessible and encourage self-regulated learning.

Professor Cliff Mallett of the University of Queensland and the Technical University of Munich, an elite coach and educator, has backed the project.

Mallet claimed the platform was a "significant development for the sport’s learning systems".

"This eLearning platform, which is a significant investment, will contribute in substantive ways to the operations of World Athletics, including the ongoing professionalisation of coaches, technical officials, and sports medicine practitioners," he said.

"A key aim of the digital platform is to increase quality engagement with coaches, officials, and athletes, to build a stronger learning organisation and also to engage meaningfully with the athletics community to bring the sport closer.

"Two key features of this innovative and engaging system will be increased accessibility across Member Federations worldwide, and quality assurance through standardised delivery."