**NOTE**
The full event website will come into operation in early 2009
**NOTE**
DATES OF EVENT
12 – 13 September 2009
EVENT AWARDED
April 2008, London
LOCATION OF EVENT
Thessaloniki, GRE
THESSALONIKI FACTS
Population: 1,057,825
Average climate: Average temperature approximately 25C in September with minimal rain
Official airport: Macedonia International Airport (15kms from the town)
Venue: Kaftanzoglio Stadium, altitude 5m above sea level
Description: Thessaloniki is the capital of Macedonia and second largest city of Greece, located in the north 500kms from Athens, about 40mins by air.
ORGANISING MEMBER and LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE
SEGAS – Hellenic Amateur Athletic Association
137 Syngrou Avenue
Nea Smirni
17121
Athens, GRE
Tel: +30 210 9359 324
Fax: +30 210 9358 594
Email: segas@internet.gr & internationalrelations@segas.gre
PRIZE MONEY
A total prize purse of $3,020,000 will be paid by the IAAF for the following finishers in each of the 36 events: (all amounts are in US$)
Place / Prize*
1st - 30,000
2nd - 20,000
3rd - 12,000
4th - 7000
5th - 5000
6th - 4000
7th - 3000
8th - 2000
Athletes competing in 1500m, 5000m, 3000m, 3000m Steeplechase who finish from 9th to 12th place will receive prize money of US $1000 each.
World Record Bonus
Any Athletes surpassing a World Record in the World Athletics Final will be awarded US $100,000.
The payment of prize money and bonuses is dependent upon the athletes clearing the usual anti-doping procedures.
QUALIFICATION
Who and how many athletes qualify?
The World Athletics Final is closely linked to the IAAF World Athletics Tour, because athletes qualify for the Final by scoring points on the Tour throughout the year. The 2009 World Athletics Tour is composed of a maximum of 25 Permit Meetings, divided into two levels. The first comprises the ÅF Golden League and Super Grand Prix, and the second level, the Grand Prix meetings, with each IAAF Continental Association represented by at least one WAT meeting.
After the last IAAF WAT Meeting before the World Athletics Final, the 7 Athletes having the highest number of points with their best 5 results (4 for throws) will qualify for each event of the World Athletics Final. For the races of 1500m and over, 11 athletes will be qualified. The Athletes for the 8th and 12th (1500m and over) position will be invited at the discretion of the IAAF.
It is a condition that athletes have scored points in at least 3 meetings, and in the case of a tie for the qualification for the World Athletics Final, the Athlete with the best seasonal performance will be qualified. The IAAF will extend invitations, at its discretion, upon receipt of refusals or cancellations.
There are also a number of Area Permit Meetings (APM-Q) at which points can be scored for the World Athletics Final.
IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final – Qualification Points Scoring System
At each WAT meeting, points are allocated to the best 8 athletes in each event (12 for middle distances):
IAAF Golden League & Super Grand Prix
1. 20 pts
2. 16 pts
3. 14 pts
4. 12 pts
5. 10 pts
6. 8 pts
7. 6 pts
8. 4 pts
IAAF Grand Prix
1. 10 pts
2. 8 pts
3. 7 pts
4. 6 pts
5. 5 pts
6. 4 pts
7. 3 pts
8. 2 pts
For middle distances (1500m and above), the athletes finishing 9th to 12th will also score points:
IAAF Golden League & Super Grand Prix: 3 pts
IAAF Grand Prix: 1 pt
If an athlete equals a World record, he/she will be awarded a bonus of 3 points; if he/she improves the World record, the bonus will be 6 points.
Area Permit Meetings
In addition to the WAT meetings, athletes can also score qualifying points for the World Athletics Final in a number of Area Permit Meetings (APM-Q), on condition that athletes from at least three different countries take part. Athletes cannot qualify for the WAF through participation at the APM-Q alone; they need to have scored points in at least 1 WAT Meeting.
These points are*:
1. 6 pts
2. 4 pts
3. 2 pts
4. 1 pts
*Except for the Throwing Events, where the athletes will score points as in the Grand Prix category.
IAAF World Athletics Tour Standings
Click on the following link for the current IAAF World Athletics Tour Standings
http://www.iaaf.org/GP09/standings/index.html
IAAF