IAAF Grand Prix
SportOutdoor track and field
Founded1985
Folded2009
ContinentGlobal

The IAAF Grand Prix was an annual, global circuit of one-day outdoor track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). It was created in 1985 as the IAAF's first seasonal track and field circuit and lasted until 2009. Athletes scored points based on their performances on the circuit and the top athletes were invited to the annual IAAF Grand Prix Final.

The IAAF Grand Prix expanded over its lifetime to incorporate the IAAF Golden League, the IAAF Super Grand Prix, IAAF Grand Prix and IAAF Grand Prix II. IAAF/Area Permit Meetings were also attached to the series, allowing athletes to score additional points in certain events at lower level meetings. In 2003 the series concept was renamed at the IAAF World Outdoor Meetings and the Grand Prix was reduced to a single tier of competitions within that tour. The series was again folded into the IAAF World Athletics Tour upon its creation in 2006, before being rendered defunct by the introduction of the IAAF Diamond League and IAAF World Challenge in 2010.

History

Created in 1985, the IAAF Grand Prix was the first global series of outdoor invitational track and field meetings organised by the IAAF.[1] It followed on from the IAAF Golden Events (1978–82), where the IAAF helped finance meetings between the world's top athletes to encourage seasonal engagement with the sport outside of the Olympic cycle.[2] The creation of the IAAF Grand Prix circuit came two years after the first World Championships in Athletics in 1983, highlighting the sports governing body's pivot to a more direct role in organising athletics competitions.[3]

From 1985 to 1992 the series featured Grand Prix Meetings and IAAF Permit Meetings.[1] The series culminated in the IAAF Grand Prix Final, which athletes gained qualification to based on their performances at the series' meetings.[4] The competing athletes at the final earned additional points for their performances there, and the series winner of each event was the athlete with the highest score (as opposed to the Grand Prix Final event winner).[5] In 1993 the Grand Prix format was amended so that the event winner was the first place athlete at the Final competitions, rather than the seasonal points leader, and this format continued until the last Grand Prix Final in 2002.[5]

In 1993 the IAAF Council approved a new tier of IAAF Grand Prix II meetings, which Permit-level meetings could apply for after two years.[1] That same year four of the Grand Prix meetings (Oslo, Zurich, Brussels and Berlin) organised a Golden Four group of top-level European meetings within the series.[6][7][8] In response, the IAAF Grand Prix series was again expanded with the foundation of the IAAF Golden League in 1998, which split out the Golden Four meetings (plus the Herculis and Golden Gala meets) as a new top tier within the IAAF Grand Prix circuit.[9] After this point, the IAAF Grand Prix referred to multiple concepts in that it was both an annual series of track and field meetings incorporating four tiers (the IAAF Golden League, IAAF Grand Prix, IAAF Grand Prix II and Area Permit Meetings) as well as a term to refer to the second and third tiers of that series. In 2003, an IAAF Super Grand Prix level was added to the circuit, the IAAF Permit Meeting tier was dropped, and the Grand Prix Final was replaced with the IAAF World Athletics Final.[10]

In 2003 the IAAF World Outdoor Meetings brand superseded the IAAF Grand Prix to the umbrella series concept and Grand Prix levels I and II continued within that series.[11] In 2006, the IAAF World Athletics Tour was formed to replace the World Outdoor Meetings and at this time the IAAF Grand Prix II tier was dropped in favour of an Area Permit Meeting structure.[12] The IAAF Grand Prix was made defunct along with the World Athletics Tour in 2010, as both were replaced by the IAAF Diamond League and IAAF World Challenge series.[13]

Editions

The IAAF Grand Prix calendar was subject to change during its lifetime, with the number of meetings, the constituent meetings, the categorisation of meetings, and the duration of the series all regularly changing from year to year. Athletes received points based on their performances at the meetings on the circuit, with more points being given at the more prestigious and competitive competitions. From 2006 to 2009, series points could also be scored in certain events at Area Permit Meeting qualifiers (APM-Qs), although the meetings themselves were not considered a formal part of the meeting series.

A total of seven meeting categories existed over the lifetime of the circuit:

Key:

EditionYearStart dateEnd dateMeetsGLSGPGPGP2PMFinalFinal dateRef.
1198525 May7 September15––15–?1985 IAAF Grand Prix Final7 September[14][15]
219863 May21 September15––15–131986 IAAF Grand Prix Final10 September[14][16]
3198723 April11 September15*––15–?1987 IAAF Grand Prix Final11 September[14]
4198828 May26 August16––16–?1988 IAAF Grand Prix Final13 September[14]
5198927 May1 September16––16–?1989 IAAF Grand Prix Final1 September[14]
6199020 May7 September19––19–?1990 IAAF Grand Prix Final7 September[14]
7199119 May20 September18––18–?1991 IAAF Grand Prix Final20 September[14]
8199225 February19 September17––17–151992 IAAF Grand Prix Final4 September[14]
9199325 February10 September16––16–121993 IAAF Grand Prix Final10 September[14]
10199424 February15 September23––15881994 IAAF Grand Prix Final3 September[14]
11199523 February15 September24––159101995 IAAF Grand Prix Final9 September[14]
12199629 February16 September29––1712101996 IAAF Grand Prix Final7 September[17]
13199720 February20 September26––1610121997 IAAF Grand Prix Final13 September[18][19]
14199825 February30 August266–911111998 IAAF Grand Prix Final5 September[20][21]
15199925 February5 September287–1011?1999 IAAF Grand Prix Final11 September[22]
1620002 March3 September267–910132000 IAAF Grand Prix Final5 October[23][24]
1720011 March2 September287–1011112001 IAAF Grand Prix Final9 September[25][26]
1820027 March8 September277–911102002 IAAF Grand Prix Final14 September[27][28]
1920031 March7 September34671011–2003 IAAF World Athletics Final13–14 September[29]
20200412 February12 September3468911–2004 IAAF World Athletics Final18–19 September[30]
21200517 February4 September34681010–2005 IAAF World Athletics Final9–10 September[31]
2220069 March3 September246612–252006 IAAF World Athletics Final9–10 September[12]
2320072 March16 September246513–272007 IAAF World Athletics Final22–23 September[32]
24200828 September 20079 September 2008256514–292008 IAAF World Athletics Final13–14 September[33][34]
25200920 September 20086 September 2009256514–292009 IAAF World Athletics Final12–13 September[35][36]

* Additionally in the 1987 season, four North American meetings each organized four or five individual events with Grand Prix status.

Meetings

MeetingCityCountry85868788899091929394959697989900010203040506070809
1Bislett GamesOsloNorwayGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGL
2Golden GalaRomeItalyGPFGPFGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGL
3Weltklasse ZürichZürichSwitzerlandGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGL
4Memorial Van DammeBrusselsBelgiumGPGPGPFGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGL
5ISTAF BerlinBerlinGermanyGPGPGPGPFGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGL
6Meeting ArevaSaint-DenisFrance-PM---GPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGL
7HerculisMonte CarloMonaco----GPF-GPGPGPGPGPGPGPGLGLGLGLGLWAFWAFWAFSGPSGPSGPSGP
8London Grand PrixLondonUnited KingdomGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPSGPSGPSGPSGPSGPSGPSGP
9DN GalanStockholmSwedenGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPSGPSGPSGPSGPSGPSGPSGP
10AthletissimaLausanneSwitzerland-PM-GPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPSGPSGPSGPSGPSGPSGPSGP
11Qatar Athletic Super Grand PrixDohaQatar-------------GP2GPGPFGPGP-SGPSGPSGPSGPSGPSGP
12Athens Grand Prix TsiklitiriaAthensGreece-----GPF--------GP2GPGPGPSGPSGPSGPSGPGPGPGP
13British Grand PrixGatesheadUnited Kingdom-------PMPMGP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2SGPSGPSGPGPGPGPGP
14Golden Spike OstravaOstravaCzech Republic------------------SGPSGPSGPGPGPGPGP
15Meeting de Atletismo MadridMadridSpain------------------SGPSGPSGPGPGPGPGP
16Meeting NikaïaNiceFranceGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGP--------
17Weltklasse in KölnCologneGermanyGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGP-GP----------
18Bruce Jenner ClassicSan JoseUnited StatesGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGP2-------------
19New York GamesNew York CityUnited States------GPGPGPGPGP--------------
20Prefontaine ClassicEugeneUnited StatesGP----------GPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGP
21Grande Premio Brasil Caixa de AtletismoBelémBrazil-PM---GPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGP
22Osaka Grand PrixOsakaJapan-----------GPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGP
23Helsinki Grand PrixHelsinkiFinlandGPGPGPGPGPGPGPGP-GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP-GPGP---
24Brothers Znamensky MemorialKazanRussiaGPGPGPGPGPGPGPPMPMPMGP2GPGP--PMPMPMGP2GP2GP2----
25IAC InternationalEdinburghUnited KingdomGPGPGPGPGPGP-------------------
26Hungalu Budapest Grand PrixBudapestHungaryGPGPGPGPGPGP-PMPMPMPMPMPMPM-PMPM--------
27Olympischer TagEast BerlinEast Germany-GPGPGPGPGP-------------------
28Rosicky MemorialPragueCzechoslovakiaGPPMGP----------------------
29Cena Slovenska - Slovak GoldBratislavaSlovakia-GP-GP-GPGPPMPMGP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2------
30FBK GamesHengeloNetherlands-------PMPMGP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GPGPGPGPGPGPGP
31Rieti MeetingRietiItalyPMPMPMPMPMPMPMPMPMGP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GPGPGPGPGPGPGP
32Melbourne Track ClassicMelbourneAustralia-------PMPMPMPMGP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GPGPGPGP
33Hanžeković MemorialZagrebCroatia---------------GP2GP2GP2GPGPGPGPGPGPGP
34Meeting Grand Prix IAAF de DakarDakarSenegal---------------------GPGPGPGP
35Adidas Grand PrixNew York CityUnited States----------------------GPGPGP
36Shanghai Golden Grand PrixShanghaiChina---------------------|---GPGP
37Gran Premio DiputaciónSevilleSpain-------GPGPGP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GPGPGP----
38Gugl Grand PrixLinzAustria-------PMPMGP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GP2GPGPGP----
39Meeting Lille-MétropoleVilleneuve-d'AscqFrance----------PMPMPMPM-PMPMPMGPGPGP----
40Memorial Primo NebioloTurinItaly-------GPF----PMPM-PMPMPMGP2GP2GP2----
41Palo Alto MeetingPalo AltoUnited States----------------GPGPGP2GP2GP2----
42International Meeting ThessalonikiThessalonikiGreece---------------PMPMPMGP2GP2GP2---WAF
43Atlanta Grand PrixAtlantaUnited States-----------GP-------------
44US Open MeetSt. LouisUnited States-------------GPGP----------
45Pontiac Grand Prix InvitationalRaleighUnited States---------------GP---------

Series winners

In addition to event-level winners decided after the IAAF Grand Prix Final, the male and female athletes with the highest points scores across ally events were crowned the overall IAAF Grand Prix winners. Prize money was awarded to the eight top-scoring athletes on the circuit, with first prize being US$200,000 in 1998.[1][5]

YearMen's winnerMen's pointsWomen's winnerWomen's points
1985Doug Padilla (United States)63Mary Slaney (United States)69
1986Saïd Aouita (Morocco)63Yordanka Donkova (Bulgaria)69
1987Tonie Campbell (United States)63Merlene Ottey (Jamaica)63
1988Saïd Aouita (Morocco)63Paula Ivan (Romania)63
1989Saïd Aouita (Morocco)69Paula Ivan (Romania)67
1990Leroy Burrell (United States)63Merlene Ottey (Jamaica)63
1991Sergey Bubka (Soviet Union)69Heike Henkel (Germany)63
1992Kevin Young (United States)63Heike Drechsler (Germany)63
1993Sergey Bubka (Ukraine)72Sandra Farmer-Patrick (United States)72
1994Noureddine Morceli (Algeria)78Jackie Joyner-Kersee (United States)72
1995Moses Kiptanui (Kenya)84Maria Mutola (Mozambique)78
1996Daniel Komen (Kenya)103Ludmila Engquist (Sweden)93
1997Wilson Kipketer (Denmark)114Astrid Kumbernuss (Germany)99
1998Hicham El Guerrouj (Morocco)136Marion Jones (United States)130
1999Bernard Barmasai (Kenya)111Gabriela Szabo (Romania)108
2000Angelo Taylor (United States)101Trine Hattestad (Norway)110
2001André Bucher (Switzerland)102Violeta Szekely (Romania)116
2002Hicham El Guerrouj (Morocco)116Marion Jones (United States)116

References

  1. ^ Grand Prix & Grand Prix II. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  2. ^ Golden Events. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  3. ^ World Championships in Athletics. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  4. ^ 1998 Grand Prix Standings. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  5. ^ IAAF Grand Prix Final. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  6. ^ Abschied von der Golden League in Brüssel. Tagesspiegel (2009-09-04). Retrieved 2019-08-04.
  7. ^ Die Geschichte des DKB-ISTAF Berlin (in German). Archived 2014-04-10 at the Wayback Machine. ISTAF. Retrieved 2019-08-04.
  8. ^ Grand Prix 1997. IAAF (archived). Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  9. ^ Athletics: Golden Four extended with more money and meetings. The Independent (1997-11-22). Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  10. ^ Grand Prix Schedule 2003. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  11. ^ IAAF World Outdoor Meetings 2004. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  12. ^ World Athletics Tour 2006. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  13. ^ Turner (2005). "IAAF - World Athletics Tour". International Sports Press Association. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  14. ^ "IAAF Grand Prix schedules 1985-1995 (PDF)". IAAF. 2026-03-21. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  15. ^ "Breaking New Ground". The Daily Telegraph. 1985-07-02. p. 15. Retrieved 2025-08-11. – via Newspapers.com
  16. ^ "IAAF International Calendar 1986 (PDF)". World Athletics. 2021-04-01. Archived 2023-07-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  17. ^ Grand Prix & Grand Prix II. IAAF (archived). Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  18. ^ "1997 Grand Prix & Grand Prix II Schedules". IAAF. Archived from the original on 1998-02-23. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  19. ^ Outdoor Permit Meetings 1997. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  20. ^ 1998 Grand Prix Standings. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  21. ^ 1998 IAAF Outdoor Permit Meeting. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  22. ^ 1999 Grand Prix Standings. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  23. ^ 2000 Grand Prix Standings. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  24. ^ 2002 IAAF Permit Meeting. IAAF (archived). Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  25. ^ 2001 Grand Prix Standings. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  26. ^ 2001 IAAF Permit Meeting. IAAF (archived). Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  27. ^ Grand Prix Schedule 2002. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  28. ^ 2002 IAAF Permit Meeting. IAAF (archived). Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  29. ^ Grand Prix Schedule 2003. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  30. ^ Grand Prix Schedule 2004. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  31. ^ Grand Prix Schedule 2005. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  32. ^ World Athletics Tour 2007. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  33. ^ World Athletics Tour Results 2008. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  34. ^ Area Permit Meetings scoring for World Athletics Tour 2008. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  35. ^ World Athletics Tour Results 2009. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  36. ^ Area Permit Meetings scoring for World Athletics Tour 2009. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-09-01.