Posted: August 6, 2005

Athletics: IAAF World Record Programme Gives Athletesan Extra Incentive In Helsinki

HELSINKI - Ever since the IAAF was founded almost a century ago, the sport of athletics has combined the exciting drama of head to head competition with the challenge of setting new limits – of stretching the limits of human performance. Every athlete’s dream, regardless of his or her event, is to break a World Record.

For this reason, the IAAFis delighted to announce that, with the support of two IAAF partners, (TDK for the men and Toyota for the women) the IAAF World Record Programme will ensure that any athlete breaking a World record can claim a $100,000 cash bonus, pending ratification of the result. ($50,000 in the women’s Steeplechase because it is making its debut appearance at the World Championships).

“In this fast moving age,where the sport of athletics needs to compete with so many other sports andcultural activities to grab public attention, I am very pleased that, with thesupport of TDK and Toyota, the IAAF can use the World Record Programme to promote the amazing achievement of any athlete who breaks a World Record in Helsinki,” said IAAF President Lamine Diack.