World Athletics (WA), formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation and International Association of Athletics Federations and formerly abbreviated as the IAAF, is the international governing body for the sport of athletics, covering track and field, cross country running, road running, race walking, mountain running, and ultra running. Included in its charge is the standardization of rules and regulations for the sports, certification of athletic facilities, recognition and management of world records, and the organisation and sanctioning of athletics competitions, including the World Athletics Championships. The organisation's current president is Sebastian Coe of the United Kingdom, who was elected to the four-year position in 2015, and re-elected twice in 2019 and 2023 for two further four-year terms.
History The process to found World Athletics began in Stockholm, Sweden, on 18 July 1912, soon after the completion of the 1912 Summer Olympics in that city. At that meeting, 27 representatives from 17 national federations agreed to meet at a congress in Berlin, Germany, the following year, overseen by Sigfrid Edström who was to become the fledgling organisation's first president. The 1913 congress formally completed the founding of what was then known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF).Reprint (page 226) at Google Books UK. The 1912 Stockholm Olympics: Essays on the Competitions, the People, the City, eds. Leif Yttergren and Hans Bolling, Jefferson NC and London: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2012. . Translated from the Swedish: Stockholmsolympiaden 1912 (Stockholm: Stockholmia, 2012)."IAAF Presidential Election History" . Jesse Squire, Daily Relay, 18 August 2015."The Beginning of the IAAF: A study of its background and foundation". . Hans Bolling, (adviser: Jan Lindroth), Stockholm/Sweden 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
It was headquartered in Stockholm from 1912 to 1946, in London from 1946 to 1993, and thereafter moved to its current location in Monaco.
In 1926, the IAAF created a commission to regulate all ball games that were played by hand, including basketball and handball. Subsequently, the International Amateur Handball Federation was founded in 1928, and the International Basketball Federation was founded in 1932.
Beginning in 1982, the IAAF passed several amendments to its rules to allow athletes to receive compensation for participating in international competitions. However, the organization retained the word amateur in its name until its 2001 congress, at which it changed its name to the International Association of Athletics Federations. In June 2019 the organization chose to rebrand as World Athletics, with a rollout beginning after the 2019 World Championships in Doha.
World Athletics became the last body within the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations to make public its financial reports in 2020, following repeated requests. It revealed the organisation had revenue of around US$200 million spread over a four-year Olympic cycle, with around a fifth of that revenue coming from Olympic broadcasting rights. The reports showed a deficit in each of the non-Olympic years of 2017 and 2018 of around US$20 million. It also showed heavy dependence on its partnership with Japanese marketing agency Dentsu, which made up half of 2018's revenue. It also highlighted reserves of US$45 million at the end of 2018, which would allow the organisation to remain solvent in the face of delays to the 2020 Summer Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Owen, David (6 June 2020). World Athletics deficits revealed as sport's long trudge to transparency accelerates . Inside The Games. Retrieved 2020-06-17.Owen, David (14 June 2020). "Dentsu income accounted for more than half of World Athletics revenue in 2018". Inside The Games. Retrieved 2020-06-17. . World Athletics Day is celebrated on 7 May.
In 2022, World Athletics imposed sanctions against the Member Federations of Russia and Belarus because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and all athletes, support personnel, and officials from Russia and Belarus were excluded from all World Athletics Series events for the foreseeable future, and Russian athletes who had received ANA status for 2022 were excluded from World Athletics Series events for the foreseeable future. World Athletics Council also applied sanctions on the Belarus Athletic Federation, including banning its hosting of any international or European athletics events, representation at Congress or in decisions which require Congressional votes, involvement of its personnel in programs, and accreditation to attend any World Athletics Series events.
In 2024, requests for a similar ban were made for Israeli athletes because of the Gaza war were rejected, saying they want to remain politically neutral, while Russian and Belarusian track and field athletes were still banned, which prevented them from participating in the 2024 Olympics in Paris representing their countries.
Governance
World Athletics is headed by a president. The World Athletics Council has a total of 26 elected members, comprising one president, four vice-presidents (one senior), the presidents of the six area associations, two members of the Athletes' Commission, and 13 Council members. Each member of the Council is elected for a four-year period by the World Athletics Congress, a biennial gathering of athletics officials that consists of the Council, Honorary Members, and up to three delegates from each of the national member federations. Chairpersons and members of Committees, which manage specialist portfolios, are also elected by the Congress. There are four committees: the Cross Country Committee, the Race Walking Committee, the Technical Committee, and the Women's Committee.Committees . IAAF. Retrieved 20 October 2019. A further three committees were launched in 2019: Development, Governance and Competitions. The governance structure is outlined in the World Athletics Constitution, which may be amended by the Congress.
The World Athletics Council appoints a chief executive officer (CEO), who is focused on improving the coverage of the sport and the organisation's commercial interests. This role was created and merged with the General Secretary role that had existed previously. British former athlete and businessman Jon Ridgeon was appointed to the role in December 2018.Former international athlete and businessman Jon Ridgeon announced as new IAAF Chief Executive Officer . IAAF (3 December 2018). Retrieved 2019-10-20. Olivier Gers was the first person to officially hold the position in 2016, succeeding the interim CEO/General Secretary Jean Gracia.IAAF announces new Chief Executive Officer . IAAF (12 October 2016). Retrieved 2019-10-20.
In order to give active athletes a voice in the governance of the sport, World Athletics created the Athletes' Commission. Athletes are elected to the commission by other athletes, typically held at the Congress attached to the World Athletics Championships. The commission chairperson and one other athlete of the opposite sex are given voting rights on the Council. The last election was held in October 2019 at the 2019 World Athletics Championships.New IAAF Athletes' Commission members announced . IAAF (6 October 2019). Retrieved 2019-10-07.
Following doping and corruption issues, a Code of Ethics was agreed upon in 2013 and an Ethics Commission was appointed in 2014.IAAF Ethics Commission members are appointed . IAAF (13 March 2013). Retrieved 2019-10-20. The Council appoints the chairperson from the elected members, and in turn, the chairperson appoints a deputy chair.What is the Ethics Board . IAAF. Retrieved 20 October 2019. The Ethics Board's scope was limited in 2017 with the creation of the independent Athletics Integrity Unit, headed by Australia's Brett Clothier, to oversee ethical issues and complaints at arm's length.Know Us . Athletics Integrity Unit. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
The International Athletics Foundation is a charity closely associated with World Athletics that engages in projects and programmes to develop the sport. Albert II, Prince of Monaco is the Honorary President and the role of IAF President is held by the World Athletics President.International Athletics Foundation . IAAF. Retrieved 20 October 2019. A World Athletics Heritage department was created in 2018 to maintain historic artifacts and display them through a physical gallery in Monaco, a virtual online gallery, and a traveling exhibition. The department also issues World Athletics Heritage Plaques to commemorate locations of historic interest to the sport.IAAF Heritage Concept . IAAF. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
Presidents
There have been six presidents since the establishment of World Athletics:
NameCountryPresidencySigfrid Edström1912–1946Lord David Burghley1946–1976Adriaan Paulen1976–1981Primo Nebiolo1981–1999Lamine Diack1999–2015Lord Sebastian Coe2015–present
World Athletics Council
NameRoleCountryProfessionSebastian Coe President Former athlete and politicianSergey Bubka Senior Vice-President Former athleteXimena Restrepo Vice-President Former athleteGeoff Gardner Vice-PresidentArea Association President PoliticianNawaf Bin Mohammed Al Saud Vice-President Prince and sports administratorHiroshi Yokokawa Council Member BusinessmanAntti Pihlakoski Council Member Sports administratorAnna Riccardi Council Member Translator and sports administratorNan Wang Council Member Sports administratorAdille Sumariwalla Council Member Former athlete and businessmanNawal El Moutawakel Council Member Former athleteAbby Hoffman Council Member Former athleteSylvia Barlag Council Member Former athlete and physicistAlberto Juantorena Council Member Former athleteWillie Banks Council Member Former athleteRaúl Chapado Council Member Former athleteDobromir Karamarinov Council Member Former athlete and coachBeatrice Ayikoru Council Member Sports administratorVíctor López Area Association President Track and field coachHamad Kalkaba Malboum Area Association President Former athlete and military officialDahlan Jumaan Al Hamad Area Association President Sports administratorSvein Arne Hansen Area Association President Track meet directorRoberto Gesta de Melo Area Association President Sports administratorIñaki Gómez Athlete's Commission Member Former athleteValerie Adams Athlete's Commission Member Former athlete
Athletes' Commission
Members elected in 2019 Following Renaud Lavillenie (FRA), 627 votes Valerie Adams (NZL), 613 votes Bernard Lagat (USA), 589 votes Kevin Borlée (BEL), 572 votes Katerina Stefanidi (GRE), 556 votes Aisha Praught-Leer (JAM), votes Existing members Iñaki Gómez (CAN) Kim Collins (SKN) Adam Kszczot (POL) Thomas Röhler (GER) Ivana Španović (SRB) Benita Willis (AUS)
Chairpersons Athletes' Commission: Iñaki Gómez (CAN) Ethics Board: Michael Beloff (GBR) Cross Country Committee: Carlos Cardoso (POR) Race Walking Committee: Maurizio Damilano (ITA) Technical Committee: Jorge Salcedo (POR) Women's Committee: Esther Fittko (GER) Athletics Integrity Unit: David Howman (NZL)
Area associations
World Athletics has a total of 214 member federations divided into 6 area associations.. IAAF.
AAA – Asian Athletics Association in Asia CAA – Confederation of African Athletics in Africa CONSUDATLE – Confederación Sudamericana de Atletismo in South America EAA – European Athletic Association in Europe NACAC – North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association in North America OAA – Oceania Athletics Association in Oceania
Partner organisations As of 1 November 2015: Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) International Paralympic Committee (IPC Athletics) International Trail Running Association (ITRA) World Masters Athletics (WMA) World Mountain Running Association (WMRA)