The Athletics for a Better World Standard (ABW) is an evaluation system developed by World Athletics that measures and scores an event’s achievement in sustainable delivery and in delivering the event in alignment with the six pillars that frame the World Athletics Sustainability Strategy. The primary objectives of the Sustainability Strategy are to reduce the environmental impacts of athletics events and increase their social and local economic benefits, thus contributing to a cleaner, greener and more equitable world.
The ABW Standard consists of 55 action areas that address all levels of event delivery - including procurement, waste management, energy, food and water management, travel and accommodation planning. Diversity, accessibility and inclusion of staff and volunteers is also addressed. So is ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of all participants and stakeholders. Another key aspect is partner, host city and athlete engagement in sustainability initiatives and concludes with guidance on monitoring, reporting and finally communicating about organisers' efforts and ambitions.
From 2024, all events that World Athletics licenses or manages as part of our one-day meeting and label road series are required to report on their sustainability progress and initiatives. From the latter half of 2026, all World Athletics-owned events will be contractually required to deliver their event to certain achievement level against the ABW Standard. Some World Athletics Series events began reporting in 2024.
The ABW Standard is a tiered system that charts progress, highlights excellence and showcases best practice. Events that have achieved the five certification tiers are listed below. (Events appear chronologically in order of reporting submission.)
Last updated: 30 May 2025
• Event has achieved at least 90% (minimum 108 points) against the ABW Standard.
2024
- World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 2024
- Oslo Bislett Games, Oslo, NOR - Wanda Diamond League
• Event has achieved at least 80% (minimum 96 points) against the ABW Standard.
2024
- Hypomeeting, Götzis, AUT - Combined Events Tour Gold
- Weltklasse Zurich, Zurich, SUI - Wanda Diamond League
• Event has achieved at least 70% (minimum 84 points) against the ABW Standard.
2024
- Boston Marathon, Boston, USA - Platinum Road Race
- Sydney Marathon, Sydney, AUS - Platinum Road Race
- Meeting International d’Athlétisme Herculis EBS, Monaco, MON - Wanda Diamond League
- BMW Berlin Marathon - Platinum Road Race
• Event has achieved at least 60% (minimum 72 points) against the ABW Standard.
2024
- C&D Xiamen Marathon, Xiamen, CHN - Platinum Road Race
- BAUHAUS-Galan, Stockholm, SWE - Wanda Diamond League
- Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, Chorzów, POL - Wanda Diamond League
- Mexico City Marathon Telcel, Ciudad de México, MEX - Gold Road Race
- Allianz Memorial Van Damme, Bruxelles, BEL - Wanda Diamond League
• Event has illustrated a clear commitment to principles of sustainable event delivery (minimum 40 points).
2024
- Daegu Marathon, Daegu, KOR - Gold Road Race
- Moy Park Belfast City Marathon, Belfast, GBR - Label Road Race
- TCS Amsterdam Marathon**, Amsterdam, NED - Platinum Road Race
- New Taipei City Wan Jin Shi Marathon, New Taipei City, TPE - Gold Road Race
- Boysen Memorial, Oslo, NOR - Continental Tour – Bronze
- 37th Multistars, Brescia, ITA - Combined Events Tour Gold
- Wanda Diamond League Xiamen, Xiamen, CHN - Wanda Diamond League
- Lima Marathon, Lima, PER - Label Road Race
- TCS London Marathon*, London, GBR - Platinum Road Race
- Athletissima Lausanne, Lausanne, SUI - Wanda Diamond League
- TCS New York City Marathon*, New York City, USA - Platinum Road Race
- United Airlines NYC Half*, New York City, USA - Label Road Race
- Mastercard New York Mini 10K* - Women's Race, New York City, USA - Label Road Race
- New Balance 5th Avenue Mile*, New York City, USA - Label Road Race
- Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K*, New York City, USA - Label Road Race
- Moy Park Belfast City Half Marathon, Belfast, GBR - Label Road Race
- Generali Berliner Halbmarathon, Berlin, GER - Elite Road Race
- Décastar, Talence, FRA - Combined Events Tour Gold
- Meeting de Paris, Paris, FRA - Wanda Diamond League
- Principality Cardiff Half Marathon, Cardiff, GBR - Elite Road Race
- Maratón Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich, Valencia, ESP - Platinum Road Race
- London Athletics Meet, London, GBR - Wanda Diamond League
- TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon*, Toronto, CAN - Elite Road Race
- Bank of America Chicago Marathon*, Chicago, USA - Platinum Road Race
- Bank of America Chicago 13.1*, Chicago, USA - Label Road Race
- Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, Minneapolis, USA - Label Road Race
- Medtronic TC 10 Mile, Minneapolis, USA - Label Road Race
- Sparkassen Cross Pforzheim, Pforzheim, GER - Cross Country Tour Silver
- NLB Ljubljana Marathon, Ljubljana, SLO - Gold Road Race
- Motonet GP Kuortane, Kuortane, FIN - Continental Tour Bronze
- Tata Mumbai Marathon, ~Mumbai, IND - Gold Road Race
- Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon, Kuala Lumpur, MAS - Label Road Race
- Course de l'Escalade, Genève, SUI - Label Road Race
- Acea Run Rome The Marathon - Elite Road Race
- Medio Maratón Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich - Gold Road Race
*Achieved Council for Responsible Sport event or organisation certification
** Achieved CIT (NED) certification
