# IAAF Golden Events
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{{Short description|Series of athletics events}}
[[File:Rodolfo Gomez.jpg|thumb|[Rodolfo Gómez](/source/Rodolfo_G%C3%B3mez) winning the IAAF Golden Marathon in 1982]]
The '''IAAF Golden Events''' were a sporadic series of twelve [athletics](/source/athletics_(sport)) events organised by the [International Amateur Athletics Federation](/source/International_Amateur_Athletics_Federation) (IAAF) from 1978 to 1982. Aside from the inaugural event in Tokyo, the contests were held in Europe and were attached to independent [track and field](/source/track_and_field) meetings.[[http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/gp.htm Golden Events]. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2015-02-26.] The purpose of the events was to raise the profile of the sport outside of Olympic competition. Marking the growing professionalism in athletics, a significant prize pot was given to the winner of the event – a move designed to attract the sport's top athletes to compete against each other at the same meeting. The inaugural prize was an 18-carat gold trophy worth 9,500 US dollars.[[http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//RTV/1978/09/27/BGY511010398/?s=* JAPAN: BRITAIN'S STEVE OVETT WINS THE GOLDEN MILE IN TOKYO, BUT HIS TIME IS WELL OUTSIDE JOHN WALKER'S WORLD RECORD.]. ITN News/Reuters (1978-09-25). Retrieved on 2015-02-26.] All twelve events were for men, reflecting their position as the most prominent sex during that period.[
The central element of the series was the Golden Mile – a men's [mile run](/source/mile_run) contest that launched the series in 1978 and was held annually until 1981. The rivalry of British runners [Steve Ovett](/source/Steve_Ovett) and [Sebastian Coe](/source/Sebastian_Coe) in this event saw each take two wins and Coe set two [mile world records](/source/Mile_run_world_record_progression) in the process.][[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=757&dat=19800827&id=J-xLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uK0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2932,5328981 Ovett Cops Second Golden Mile Race]. ''The Virgin Islands Daily News'' (1980-08-27). Retrieved on 2015-02-26.][[http://library.la84.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1980/ore158/ORE158w.pdf "Within the International Federations"]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227001605/http://library.la84.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1980/ore158/ORE158w.pdf |date=2015-02-27 }}. ''Olympic Review'' (1980). Retrieved on 2015-02-26.] British athletes were particularly successful in the series and won eight of the twelve events. A [sprint](/source/sprint_(running)) format, aggregating an athlete's times in separate [100 metres](/source/100_metres) and [200 metres](/source/200_metres), was launched in 1979 and repeated in 1981. [Long-distance running](/source/Long-distance_running) was also a major element of the series as it featured one [5000 metres](/source/5000_metres) race, two [10,000 metres](/source/10%2C000_metres) races,[Turnbull, Simon (2006-10-01). [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics-mcleod-when-we-were-the-run-kings-418262.html Athletics: McLeod: When we were the run kings]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved on 2015-02-26.] and a [marathon](/source/marathon) race over the series history. Field events were in a minority, with one [javelin throw](/source/javelin_throw) and one [pole vault](/source/pole_vault) being their only appearance.[Moore, Kenny (1984-07-18). [https://www.si.com/vault/1984/07/18/643799/the-latest-in-a-long-line The Latest In A Long Line]. ''Sports Illustrated''. Retrieved on 2015-02-26.][[http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Issue/straitstimes19800819.aspx Ferreira beats world's best vaulters]. ''Straits Times'' (1980-08-19). Retrieved on 2015-02-26.] The marathon, in 1982, was the last Golden Event to be held.[[https://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/08/sports/gomez-is-first.html Gomez Is First]. ''New York Times'' (1982-03-08). Retrieved on 2015-02-26.]
The establishment of the [IAAF World Championships in Athletics](/source/IAAF_World_Championships_in_Athletics) in 1983 saw the IAAF focus on its sport-specific championships as a way of using prizes to generate top level competition.[Turrini, Joseph M. (2010). [https://books.google.com/books?id=oBAlRrvBsu0C&dq=iaaf+World+Championships+in+Athletics+prize+money+%221983%22&pg=PA239 The End of Amateurism in American Track and Field], pg. 239. University of Illinois Press. {{ISBN|9780252077074}}. Retrieved on 2015-02-26.] The launch of the [IAAF Grand Prix](/source/IAAF_Grand_Prix) in 1985 formalised the major track and field circuit as a professional series of point-scoring events.[{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150224134728/http://www.world-challenge.org/history History of IAAF World Challenge]}}. IAAF World Challenge. Retrieved on 2015-02-26.] The "Golden" was idea revived in the form of the [Golden Four](/source/Golden_Four) in 1992 – a high-prize money, track and field series comprising [Oslo](/source/Bislett_Games), [Zurich](/source/Weltklasse_Z%C3%BCrich), [Brussels](/source/Memorial_van_Damme) and [Berlin](/source/Internationales_Stadionfest) (all venues that had hosted Golden Events).[[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-golden-four-raising-the-stakes-jaackson-and-powell-share-jackpot-as-organisers-in-london-and-lausanne-press-to-join-the-elite-stakes-1446088.html Athletics: 'Golden Four' raising the stakes: Jaackson and Powell share jackpot as organisers in London and Lausanne press to join the elite stakes]. ''The Independent'' (1994-09-01). Retrieved on 2015-02-26.] This was later expanded and co-opted by the IAAF in 1998 as the [IAAF Golden League](/source/IAAF_Golden_League),[Rowbottom, Mike (1997-11-22). [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/athletics-golden-four-extended-with-more-money-and-meetings-1295523.html Athletics: Golden Four extended with more money and meetings ]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved on 2015-02-26.] which was itself later expanded to the current major track and field series: the [IAAF Diamond League](/source/IAAF_Diamond_League).[[http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/twelve-years-of-the-iaaf-golden-league Twelve years of the IAAF Golden League]. IAAF (2009-09-09). Retrieved on 2015-02-26.]
Some of the events featured title sponsors: the first event was also known as the "[Dubai](/source/Dubai) Golden Mile", given its sponsorship by the emirate, and the final event was also known as the "Citizen Golden Marathon", under the patronage of Japanese watchmakers [Citizen Holdings](/source/Citizen_Holdings).[[http://athensmarathonshop.com/blog/to-know/155-marathon-history-lesson-5 Marathon History Lesson 5] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20150227054617/http://athensmarathonshop.com/blog/to-know/155-marathon-history-lesson-5 |date=2015-02-27 }}. Athens Marathon (2014-05-26). Retrieved on 2015-02-26.]
==Editions==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Year
!Event
!Location
!Meet
!Winner
|-
|1978
|Mile run
|[Tokyo](/source/Tokyo), Japan
|Tokyo Eight Nations International
|[Steve Ovett](/source/Steve_Ovett)
|-
|rowspan=4|1979
|100/200 metres
|[Zürich](/source/Z%C3%BCrich), Switzerland
|[Weltklasse Zürich](/source/Weltklasse_Z%C3%BCrich)
|[James Sanford](/source/James_Sanford_(athlete))
|-
|Mile run
|[Oslo](/source/Oslo), Norway
|[Bislett Games](/source/Bislett_Games)
|[Sebastian Coe](/source/Sebastian_Coe)
|-
|10,000 metres
|[Brussels](/source/Brussels), Belgium
|[Memorial Van Damme](/source/Memorial_Van_Damme)
|[Mike McLeod](/source/Mike_McLeod_(athlete))
|-
|Javelin throw
|[Budapest](/source/Budapest), Hungary
|
|[Arto Härkönen](/source/Arto_H%C3%A4rk%C3%B6nen)
|-
|rowspan=2|1980
|Mile run
|[London](/source/London), United Kingdom
|[London Grand Prix](/source/London_Grand_Prix)
|[Steve Ovett](/source/Steve_Ovett)
|-
|Pole vault
|[Nice](/source/Nice), France
|
|[Serge Ferreira](/source/Serge_Ferreira)
|-
|rowspan=4|1981
|100/200 metres
|[Berlin](/source/Berlin), West Germany
|[Internationales Stadionfest](/source/Internationales_Stadionfest)
|[Allan Wells](/source/Allan_Wells)
|-
|Mile run
|[Brussels](/source/Brussels), Belgium
|[Memorial Van Damme](/source/Memorial_Van_Damme)
|[Sebastian Coe](/source/Sebastian_Coe)
|-
|5000 metres
|[Gateshead](/source/Gateshead), United Kingdom
|[British Grand Prix](/source/British_Grand_Prix_(athletics))
|[Barry Smith](/source/Barry_Smith_(athlete))
|-
|10,000 metres
|[Prague](/source/Prague), Czechoslovakia
|
|[Mike McLeod](/source/Mike_McLeod_(athlete))
|-
|1982
|Marathon
|[Athens](/source/Athens), Greece
|n/a
|[Rodolfo Gómez](/source/Rodolfo_G%C3%B3mez)
|}
==Podium finishers==
{| {{MedalistTable|type=Event|columns=2|style=ordinal|labelwidth=150}}
|-
|1978 Golden Mile
|{{flagathlete|[Steve Ovett](/source/Steve_Ovett)|GBR}} ||3:55.5
|{{flagathlete|[Francis Gonzalez](/source/Francis_Gonzalez)|FRA}} ||3:57.3
|{{flagathlete|[Graham Williamson](/source/Graham_Williamson_(athlete))|GBR}} ||3:59.2
|-
|1979 Golden Sprints
|{{flagathlete|[James Sanford](/source/James_Sanford_(athlete))|USA}} ||30.54
|{{flagathlete|[Allan Wells](/source/Allan_Wells)|GBR}} ||30.64
|{{flagathlete|[James Gilkes](/source/James_Gilkes)|GUY}} ||30.67
|-
|1979 Golden Mile
|{{flagathlete|[Sebastian Coe](/source/Sebastian_Coe)|GBR}} ||3:48.95 {{AthAbbr|WR}}
|{{flagathlete|[Steve Scott](/source/Steve_Scott_(athlete))|USA}} ||3:51.11
|{{flagathlete|[Craig Masback](/source/Craig_Masback)|USA}} ||3:52.02
|-
|1979 Golden 10,000 m
|{{flagathlete|[Mike McLeod](/source/Mike_McLeod_(athlete))|GBR}} ||27:39.76
|{{flagathlete|[Brendan Foster](/source/Brendan_Foster)|GBR}} ||27:41.23
|{{flagathlete|[Léon Schots](/source/L%C3%A9on_Schots)|BEL}} ||27:41.34
|-
|1979 Golden Javelin
|{{flagathlete|[Arto Härkönen](/source/Arto_H%C3%A4rk%C3%B6nen)|FIN}} ||90.18
|{{flagathlete|[Antero Puranen](/source/Antero_Puranen)|FIN}} ||89.40
|{{flagathlete|[Ferenc Paragi](/source/Ferenc_Paragi)|HUN}} ||85.38
|-
|1980 Golden Mile
|{{flagathlete|[Steve Ovett](/source/Steve_Ovett)|GBR}} ||3:52.84
|{{flagathlete|[Steve Scott](/source/Steve_Scott_(athlete))|USA}} ||3:52.92
|{{flagathlete|[John Walker](/source/John_Walker_(runner))|NZL}} ||3:53.19
|-
|1980 Golden Vault
|{{flagathlete|[Serge Ferreira](/source/Serge_Ferreira)|FRA}} ||5.70 m
|{{flagathlete|[Philippe Houvion](/source/Philippe_Houvion)|FRA}} ||5.60 m
|{{flagathlete|[Mariusz Klimczyk](/source/Mariusz_Klimczyk)|POL}} ||5.60 m
|-
|1981 Golden Sprints
|{{flagathlete|[Allan Wells](/source/Allan_Wells)|GBR}} ||30.30
|{{flagathlete|[Mel Lattany](/source/Mel_Lattany)|USA}} ||30.86
|{{flagathlete|[Jeff Phillips](/source/Jeff_Phillips_(sprinter))|USA}} ||30.97
|-
|1981 Golden Mile
|{{flagathlete|[Sebastian Coe](/source/Sebastian_Coe)|GBR}} ||3:47.33 {{AthAbbr|WR}}
|{{flagathlete|[Mike Boit](/source/Mike_Boit)|KEN}} ||3:49.45
|{{flagathlete|[Steve Scott](/source/Steve_Scott_(athlete))|USA}} ||3:51.48
|-
|1981 Golden 5000 m
|{{flagathlete|[Barry Smith](/source/Barry_Smith_(athlete))|GBR}} ||13:21.14
|{{flagathlete|[Tolossa Kotu](/source/Tolossa_Kotu)|ETH}} ||13:23.95
|{{flagathlete|[Bill McChesney](/source/Bill_McChesney_(athlete))|USA}} ||13:24.66
|-
|1981 Golden 10,000 m
|{{flagathlete|[Mike McLeod](/source/Mike_McLeod_(athlete))|GBR}} ||27:59.38
|{{flagathlete|[Geoff Smith](/source/Geoff_Smith_(long-distance_runner))|GBR}} ||27:59.43
|{{flagathlete|[Nick Rose](/source/Nick_Rose_(runner))|GBR}} ||27:59.68
|-
|1982 Golden Marathon
|{{flagathlete|[Rodolfo Gómez](/source/Rodolfo_G%C3%B3mez)|MEX}} ||2:11:49
|{{flagathlete|[Vladimir Kotov](/source/Vladimir_Kotov)|URS}} ||2:13:34
|{{flagathlete|[Greg Meyer](/source/Greg_Meyer)|USA}} ||2:14:07
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
;Podium finishers
*[http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/gp.htm Golden Events]. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2015-02-26.
{{International athletics}}
{{defunct athletics competitions}}
Golden Events
Category:Defunct sport of athletics competitions
Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1978
Category:Annual sport of athletics series
---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [IAAF Golden Events](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAAF_Golden_Events) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAAF_Golden_Events?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.