# IAAF Grand Prix

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. 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. 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.
From 1985 to 1992 the series featured Grand Prix Meetings and IAAF Permit Meetings. The series culminated in the IAAF Grand Prix Final, which athletes gained qualification to based on their performances at the series' meetings. 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). 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.
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. 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. 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. 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.
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. 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. 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.

## 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:
* GL : IAAF Golden League
* SGP : IAAF Super Grand Prix
* GP : IAAF Grand Prix
* GP2 : IAAF Grand Prix 2
* GPF : IAAF Grand Prix Final
* WAF : IAAF World Athletics Final
* PM : IAAF/Area Permit Meeting
Key:  As part of IAAF World Athletics Tour  As part of IAAF World Outdoor Meetings
| Edition | Year | Start date | End date | Meets | GL | SGP | GP | GP2 | PM | Final | Final date |
| 1 | 1985 | | | | – | – | | | | 1985 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 7 September |
| 2 | 1986 | | | | – | – | | | | 1986 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 10 September |
| 3 | 1987 | | | | – | – | | | | 1987 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 11 September |
| 4 | 1988 | | | | – | – | | | | 1988 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 13 September |
| 5 | 1989 | | | | – | – | | | | 1989 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 1 September |
| 6 | 1990 | | | | – | – | | | | 1990 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 7 September |
| 7 | 1991 | | | | – | – | | | | 1991 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 20 September |
| 8 | 1992 | | | | – | – | | | | 1992 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 4 September |
| 9 | 1993 | | | | – | – | | | | 1993 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 10 September |
| 10 | 1994 | | | | – | – | | | | 1994 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 3 September |
| 11 | 1995 | | | | – | – | | | | 1995 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 9 September |
| 12 | 1996 | 29 February | 16 September | 29 | – | – | 17 | 12 | 10 | 1996 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 7 September |
| 13 | 1997 | 20 February | 16 September | 28 | – | – | 17 | 11 | 15 | 1997 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 13 September |
| 14 | 1998 | 25 February | 30 August | 26 | 6 | – | 9 | 11 | 11 | 1998 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 5 September |
| 15 | 1999 | 25 February | 5 September | 28 | 7 | – | 10 | 11 | ? | 1999 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 11 September |
| 16 | 2000 | 2 March | 3 September | 26 | 7 | – | 9 | 10 | 13 | 2000 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 5 October |
| 17 | 2001 | 1 March | 2 September | 28 | 7 | – | 10 | 11 | 12 | 2001 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 9 September |
| 18 | 2002 | 7 March | 8 September | 27 | 7 | – | 9 | 11 | 10 | 2002 IAAF Grand Prix Final | 14 September |
| 19 | 2003 | 1 March | 7 September | 34 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 11 | – | 2003 IAAF World Athletics Final | 13–14 September |
| 20 | 2004 | 12 February | 12 September | 34 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | – | 2004 IAAF World Athletics Final | 18–19 September |
| 21 | 2005 | 17 February | 4 September | 34 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | – | 2005 IAAF World Athletics Final | 9–10 September |
| 22 | 2006 | 9 March | 3 September | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | – | 25 | 2006 IAAF World Athletics Final | 9–10 September |
| 23 | 2007 | 2 March | 16 September | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | – | 27 | 2007 IAAF World Athletics Final | 22–23 September |
| 24 | 2008 | 28 September 2007 | 9 September 2008 | 25 | 6 | 5 | 14 | – | 29 | 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final | 13–14 September |
| 25 | 2009 | 20 September 2008 | 6 September 2009 | 25 | 6 | 5 | 14 | – | 29 | 2009 IAAF World Athletics Final | 12–13 September |

## Meetings

| # | Meeting | City | Country | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| 1 | ISTAF Berlin | Berlin | Germany | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL |
| 2 | Bislett Games | Oslo | Norway | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL |
| 3 | Golden Gala | Rome | Italy | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL |
| 4 | Weltklasse Zürich | Zürich | Switzerland | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL |
| 5 | Memorial Van Damme | Brussels | Belgium | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL |
| 6 | Meeting Areva | Saint-Denis | France | GP | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL |
| 7 | Herculis | Monte Carlo | Monaco | GL | GL | GL | GL | GL | WAF | WAF | WAF | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP |
| 8 | Athletissima | Lausanne | Switzerland | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP |
| 9 | London Grand Prix | London | United Kingdom | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP |
| 10 | DN Galan | Stockholm | Sweden | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP |
| 11 | Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix | Doha | Qatar | GP2 | GP | GPF | GP | GP | - | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP |
| 12 | British Grand Prix | Gateshead | United Kingdom | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | SGP | SGP | SGP | GP | GP | GP | GP |
| 13 | Athens Grand Prix Tsiklitiria | Athens | Greece | - | GP2 | GP | GP | GP | SGP | SGP | SGP | SGP | GP | GP | GP |
| 14 | Golden Spike Ostrava | Ostrava | Czech Republic | - | - | - | - | - | SGP | SGP | SGP | GP | GP | GP | GP |
| 15 | Meeting de Atletismo Madrid | Madrid | Spain | - | - | - | - | - | SGP | SGP | SGP | GP | GP | GP | GP |
| 16 | Prefontaine Classic | Eugene | United States | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP |
| 17 | Osaka Grand Prix | Osaka | Japan | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP |
| 18 | Grande Premio Brasil Caixa de Atletismo | Belém | Brazil | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP |
| 19 | Melbourne Track Classic | Melbourne | Australia | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP | GP | GP | GP |
| 20 | FBK Games | Hengelo | Netherlands | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP |
| 21 | Rieti Meeting | Rieti | Italy | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP |
| 22 | Hanžeković Memorial | Zagreb | Croatia | - | - | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP | GP |
| 23 | Meeting Grand Prix IAAF de Dakar | Dakar | Senegal | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | GP | GP | GP | GP |
| 24 | Adidas Grand Prix | New York City | United States | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | GP | GP | GP |
| 25 | Shanghai Golden Grand Prix | Shanghai | China | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | GP | GP |
| 26 | Helsinki Grand Prix | Helsinki | Finland | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP | - | GP | GP | - | - | - |
| 27 | Gran Premio Diputación | Seville | Spain | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP | GP | GP | - | - | - | - |
| 28 | Gugl Grand Prix | Linz | Austria | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP | GP | GP | - | - | - | - |
| 29 | Cena Slovenska - Slovak Gold | Bratislava | Slovakia | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 30 | Brothers Znamensky Memorial | Kazan | Russia | - | - | - | - | - | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | - | - | - | - |
| 31 | International Meeting Thessaloniki | Thessaloniki | Greece | - | - | - | - | - | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | - | - | - | WAF |
| 32 | Palo Alto Meeting | Palo Alto | United States | - | - | - | GP | GP | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | - | - | - | - |
| 33 | Meeting du Conseil Général de la Martinique | Fort-de-France | France | - | - | - | - | - | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | - | - | - | - |
| 34 | Notturna di Milano | Milan | Italy | - | - | - | - | - | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | - | - | - | - |
| 35 | Memorial Primo Nebiolo | Turin | Italy | - | - | - | - | - | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | - | - | - | - |
| 36 | Meeting Lille-Métropole | Villeneuve-d'Ascq | France | - | - | - | - | - | GP | GP | GP | - | - | - | - |
| 37 | Josef Odložil Memorial | Prague | Czech Republic | - | - | - | - | - | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | - | - | - | - |
| 38 | KBC Night of Athletics | Heusden-Zolder | Belgium | - | - | - | - | - | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | - | - | - | - |
| 39 | Grande Premio Rio de Atletismo | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | - | - | - | - | - | - | GP2 | GP2 | - | - | - | - |
| 40 | Engen Grand Prix | Pretoria | South Africa | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 41 | Meeting Nikaïa | Nice | France | GP | GP | GP | GP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 42 | Adidas Oregon Track Classic | Portland | United States | - | - | - | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | GP2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 43 | US Open Meet | St. Louis | United States | GP | GP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 44 | Meeting de L'Humanité | St. Denis | France | GP2 | GP2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 45 | Weltklasse in Köln | Cologne | Germany | - | GP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 46 | Pontiac Grand Prix Invitational | Raleigh | United States | - | - | GP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
* The South African meet was held in Johannesburg in 1998 and Roodepoort in 1999
* The second British meet was held in Sheffield in 1998, 2002 and 2007
* The 1998–2001 Grande Premio Brasil Caixa de Atletismo was held in Rio de Janeiro
* The 2003 Athens Grand Prix Tsiklitiria was held in Trikala
* The 2003 Adidas Oregon Track Classic was held in Gresham, Oregon
* The 2003 Brothers Znamensky Memorial was held in Tula, Russia

## 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.
| Year | Men's winner | Men's points | Women's winner | Women's points |
| 1985 | Doug Padilla (USA) | 63 | Mary Slaney (USA) | 69 |
| 1986 | Saïd Aouita (MAR) | 63 | Yordanka Donkova (BUL) | 69 |
| 1987 | Tonie Campbell (USA) | 63 | Merlene Ottey (JAM) | 63 |
| 1988 | Saïd Aouita (MAR) | 63 | Paula Ivan (ROM) | 63 |
| 1989 | Saïd Aouita (MAR) | 69 | Paula Ivan (ROM) | 67 |
| 1990 | Leroy Burrell (USA) | 63 | Merlene Ottey (JAM) | 63 |
| 1991 | Sergey Bubka (URS) | 69 | Heike Henkel (GER) | 63 |
| 1992 | Kevin Young (USA) | 63 | Heike Drechsler (GER) | 63 |
| 1993 | Sergey Bubka (UKR) | 72 | Sandra Farmer-Patrick (USA) | 72 |
| 1994 | Noureddine Morceli (ALG) | 78 | Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) | 72 |
| 1995 | Moses Kiptanui (KEN) | 84 | Maria Mutola (MOZ) | 78 |
| 1996 | Daniel Komen (KEN) | 103 | Ludmila Engquist (SWE) | 93 |
| 1997 | Wilson Kipketer (DEN) | 114 | Astrid Kumbernuss (GER) | 99 |
| 1998 | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | 136 | Marion Jones (USA) | 130 |
| 1999 | Bernard Barmasai (KEN) | 111 | Gabriela Szabo (ROM) | 108 |
| 2000 | Angelo Taylor (USA) | 101 | Trine Hattestad (NOR) | 110 |
| 2001 | André Bucher (SUI) | 102 | Violeta Szekely (ROM) | 116 |
| 2002 | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | 116 | Marion Jones (USA) | 116 |