The IAAF Golden League was an annual series of outdoor track and field meetings organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Athletes who won specific events at all of the series meetings were awarded a jackpot prize, sometimes given in gold bars, which inspired the series name. The competition began with seven meetings and it lasted for twelve years as the IAAF's top tier of one-day meetings. Within the IAAF's global circuit, athletes received additional points for their performances at the Golden League for the IAAF Grand Prix (1998–2002), IAAF World Outdoor Meetings (2003–2005), then IAAF World Athletics Tour (2006–2009). The Golden League was replaced in 2010 by the Diamond League, which marked an expansion to fourteen seasonal meetings covering all track and field events except the hammer throw.
The IAAF World Athletics Final was an annual track and field competition organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). It was inaugurated in 2003 to replace the IAAF Grand Prix Final. The competition was part of the IAAF World Athletics Series and was the seasonal culmination of the IAAF World Outdoor Meetings series from 2003 to 2005, then the IAAF World Athletics Tour from 2006 to 2009. Due to changes in the one-day meeting system introduced by the IAAF, the World Athletics Final was discontinued after the 2009 season.
The 2006 IAAF World Athletics Tour was the first edition of the annual global circuit of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The series featured 24 one-day meetings, consisting of the six meetings of the 2006 IAAF Golden League, six IAAF Super Grand Prix meetings, and twelve IAAF Grand Prix meetings. In addition, there were 25 Area Permit Meetings that carried point-scoring events. The series culminated in the two-day 2006 IAAF World Athletics Final, held in Stuttgart, Germany from 9–10 September.
The IAAF Super Grand Prix was an annual series of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Over the competition's history, a total of nine different meetings were part of the circuit – all of which were European meetings with the sole exception of the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix, introduced in 2004.
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 II was an annual series of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). It was introduced in 1993 as an expansion of the IAAF Grand Prix series, adding a second category of competitions in order to support a greater number of meetings the financial benefit of being an official Grand Prix meeting. Prior to its creation, meetings not on the Grand Prix list were included as IAAF Permit Meetings. Further additions to the Grand Prix II level required a competition to have held permit status for two years. Over the competition's history, at least of 25 different meetings were part of the circuit.
The 1998 IAAF Grand Prix was the fourteenth edition of the annual global series of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The series changed format that year to incorporate the six 1998 IAAF Golden League meetings as the top tier, followed by the existing Grand Prix I and Grand Prix II level meetings, then finally the Permit level meetings. Grand Prix I featured nine meetings from 3 May to 25 August and Grand Prix II featured 11 meetings from 25 February to 30 August, making a combined total of 26 meetings for the series. An additional 11 IAAF Outdoor Permit Meetings were attached to the circuit. Permit Meetings originally scheduled for Jakarta and San Jose, California were later dropped.
The 1999 IAAF Grand Prix was the fifteenth edition of the annual global series of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The series was divided into four levels: 1999 IAAF Golden League, Grand Prix I and Grand Prix II, and IAAF Permit Meetings. There were seven IAAF Golden League meetings, Grand Prix I featured 10 meetings from 25 April to 8 August and Grand Prix II featured 11 meetings from 25 February to 5 September, making a combined total of 28 meetings for the series. Athletes could also score additional points at IAAF Permit Meetings.
The 2000 IAAF Grand Prix was the sixteenth edition of the annual global series of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The series was divided into four levels: 2000 IAAF Golden League, Grand Prix I and Grand Prix II, and IAAF Permit Meetings. There were seven Golden League meetings, Grand Prix I featured 9 meetings from 13 May to 5 August and Grand Prix II featured 10 meetings from 2 March to 3 September, making a combined total of 26 meetings for the series. An additional 13 IAAF Outdoor Permit Meetings were attached to the circuit.
The 2001 IAAF Grand Prix was the seventeenth edition of the annual global series of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The series was divided into four levels: 2001 IAAF Golden League, Grand Prix I and Grand Prix II, and IAAF Permit Meetings. There were seven Golden League meets, Grand Prix I featured 10 meetings from 6 May to 22 July and Grand Prix II featured 11 meetings from 1 March to 2 September, making a combined total of 28 meetings for the series. An additional 12 IAAF Outdoor Permit Meetings were attached to the circuit.
The 2002 IAAF Grand Prix was the eighteenth edition of the annual global series of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The series was divided into four levels: 2002 IAAF Golden League, Grand Prix I and Grand Prix II, and IAAF Permit Meetings. There were seven Golden League meetings, Grand Prix I featured 9 meetings from 5 May to 23 August and Grand Prix II featured 11 meetings from 7 March to 8 September, making a combined total of 27 meetings for the series. An additional 10 IAAF Outdoor Permit Meetings were attached to the circuit.
The 2003 IAAF World Outdoor Meetings was the first edition of the annual global series of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). It replaced the IAAF Grand Prix as the IAAF's primary outdoor track and field series. Compared to the 2002 IAAF Grand Prix, a new tier of meetings – IAAF Super Grand Prix – was introduced and the IAAF Permit Meetings concept was dropped. The series had four levels: 2003 IAAF Golden League, Super Grand Prix, Grand Prix and Grand Prix II. There were 6 Golden League meetings, Super Grand Prix category featured 7 meetings from 12 June to 8 August, the IAAF Grand Prix category featured 10 meetings from 4 May to 7 September and Grand Prix II featured 11 meetings from 1 March to 3 August, making a combined total of 34 meetings for the series.
The 2009 IAAF World Athletics Tour was the fourth and final edition of the annual global circuit of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The series featured 25 one-day meetings, consisting of the six meetings of the 2009 IAAF Golden League, five IAAF Super Grand Prix meetings, and fourteen IAAF Grand Prix meetings. In addition, there were 29 Area Permit Meetings that carried point-scoring events. The series culminated in the two-day 2009 IAAF World Athletics Final, held in Thessaloniki, Greece from 12–13 September.
The 2010 IAAF World Challenge was the inaugural edition of the annual, global circuit of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The series began with a total of thirteen meetings.
The 2008 IAAF World Athletics Tour was the third edition of the annual global circuit of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The series featured 25 one-day meetings, consisting of the six meetings of the 2008 IAAF Golden League, five IAAF Super Grand Prix meetings, and fourteen IAAF Grand Prix meetings. In addition, there were 29 Area Permit Meetings that carried point-scoring events. The series culminated in the two-day 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final, held in Stuttgart, Germany from 13 to 14 September.
The 2007 IAAF World Athletics Tour was the second edition of the annual global circuit of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The series featured 24 one-day meetings, consisting of the six meetings of the 2007 IAAF Golden League, five IAAF Super Grand Prix meetings, and thirteen IAAF Grand Prix meetings. In addition, there were 27 Area Permit Meetings that carried point-scoring events. The series culminated in the two-day 2007 IAAF World Athletics Final, held in Stuttgart, Germany from 22–23 September.
The IAAF World Outdoor Meetings were 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 2003 building upon the IAAF Grand Prix series held since 1985. The series incorporated four categories of competitions: the IAAF Golden League, IAAF Super Grand Prix, IAAF Grand Prix I and IAAF Grand Prix II. The reorganisation came with the introduction of the IAAF World Rankings system. Athletes scored points based on their performances at the series meetings and the highest scoring athletes in each event were invited to compete at the IAAF World Athletics Final. The series lasted only three years before being reorganised into the IAAF World Athletics Tour.
The 2004 IAAF World Outdoor Meetings was the second edition of the annual global series of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The series had four levels: 2004 IAAF Golden League, IAAF Super Grand Prix, IAAF Grand Prix and IAAF Grand Prix II. There were 6 Golden League meetings, 8 Super Grand Prix category meetings, 9 IAAF Grand Prix category meetings and 11 Grand Prix II meetings, making a combined total of 34 meetings for the series.
The 2005 IAAF World Outdoor Meetings was the third and final edition of the annual global series of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The series had four levels: 2005 IAAF Golden League, IAAF Super Grand Prix, IAAF Grand Prix and IAAF Grand Prix II. There were 6 Golden League meetings, 8 Super Grand Prix category meetings, 10 IAAF Grand Prix category meetings and 10 Grand Prix II meetings, making a combined total of 34 meetings for the series.
The 1997 IAAF Grand Prix was the thirteenth edition of the annual global series of one-day track and field competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The series consisted of three levels: IAAF Grand Prix, IAAF Grand Prix II, and finally IAAF Permit Meetings. There were seventeen Grand Prix meetings and eleven Grand Prix II meetings, making a combined total of 28 meetings for the series from 20 February to 7 September. An additional 15 IAAF Outdoor Permit Meetings were attached to the circuit.
