In 1998, the IAAF created the IAAF Golden League, which was developed as a concept to unify the elite individual Meetings held in Europe.

The IAAF Golden League, comprising seven Meetings rich in athletics tradition, will be held at the height of the athletics season. For competing athletes, the concept is simple: win your IAAF Golden League discipline at each IAAF Golden League Meeting for a share of the IAAF Golden League Jackpot of 50 kilos of gold ingots.

In 2003, the Jackpot amount was increased to 100 kilos of gold ingots, an increase from $500 000 to $1 million.

Monte-Carlo - The annual drama that is the season long campaign to claim the $1 Million Jackpot offered by the IAAF Golden League takes on a ‘winner takes all’ ethos in 2007, with athletes required to win at all six meetings in the series to acquire at least a share of athletics’ biggest yearly payday.

At a meeting in Dakar, Senegal, today (6 Dec) of the IAAF Golden League Working Group, which consists of IAAF representatives, Golden League Meeting Organisers and representatives from Broadcasting and Marketing partner IMG, it was agreed that successful claimants of the $1 Million Jackpot must win at ALL SIX meetings of the IAAF Golden League next season.

However, to sustain the active participation in the Jackpot of as many athletes as possible through to the culmination of the series, another entertaining dynamic has been added for 2007:

Should NO athlete manage to attain six wins and claim the $1 Million, then anyone with five victories will share half the original prize - $500,000. NOTE. this secondary prize is only on offer should nobody win his or her event at all six meetings.

IAAF Golden League Jackpot events for 2007

There will be TEN IAAF Golden League event disciplines designated to the Jackpot in 2007, five events for men and five for women, as follows:

MEN: 100m, 1500m, 110m Hurdles, Triple Jump, Javelin Throw;

WOMEN: 100m, 400m, 100m Hurdles, High Jump, Pole Vault.

Friday 01 July Paris France | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |
Friday 08 July Rome Italy | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |
Friday 29 July Oslo Norway | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |

Then the Helsinki World Championships

Friday 19 August Zurich Switzerland [ 2003 ]
Friday 26 August Brussels Belgium | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |
Sunday 04 September Berlin Germany | 2003 | 2002 |

See the Golden Memories from each venue : [ more ]

See the Golden League Events and Scoring : [ more ]

League News 2007:

Golden League 2007 - Zurich packed to the rafters
After any Championship event you can always expect a drop in performances, especially for those who have won the Gold. Zurich followed Osaka and the stadium was packed with spectators coming out for an evening's athletics and a chance to see the recently crowned Champions from Japan.

Golden League - Golden Troubles
This year controversy seems to be dogging the Golden League series. Last week, in Paris we had the situation of the shambles of the last lap in the Men's 3000m SteepleChase where Kenyan Paul Koech was denied victory after confusion of the last lap.

Webb moves to a new level with Golden League win

Webb posts world leader with Paris Golden League win
Reigning USA Outdoor 1,500m champion Alan Webb ran a huge personal best and posted the fastest men's 1,500m time in the world this outdoor season Friday at the Meeting Gaz de France in Paris, which is the second event of the 2007 IAAF Golden League.

2006 Golden League Events announced

Oslo - Bislett - Golden League 2005 01 August
Oslo Norway - The 2005 Golden League travelled to the revamped Bislett stadium in Oslo, to continue with the great Norwegian tradition of quality track meetings, after a year in Bergen in 2004 during renovations. . | more |

Paris - Saint Denis - Golden League 2005 02 July
Paris France - The start of the 2005 Golden League series started with Paris, with a record 70 000 spectators witness to an evening of vibrant athletics from the Stade de France.

The middle and distance events produced stunning performances, yet no World Records from the Ethiopian athlete, Kenenisa Bekele. When this athlete steps to the line, the World expects. A weight to carry for an athlete so young. | more |