The IAAF Grand Prix Final was an athletics competition featuring track and field events staged by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It was first held in 1985 and replaced in 2003 by the IAAF World Athletics Final. For the most part of its history, the events were staged in early September in European major cities which also played host to prominent annual athletics meetings. Fukuoka City became the first non-European host in 1997. Doha followed in 2000 (also the first time the event was staged in October) and Melbourne was that last non-European host before the final edition of the competition was held in Paris in 2002.IAAF Grand Prix Final. IAAF. Retrieved on 2015-01-17.
The event programme was half that of a full traditional track and field programme, with events alternating each edition. For example, a men's 100 metres and women's 200 metres were contested in 1985, but not vice versa – that arrangement was reversed in 1986 and reversed again in 1987, and so forth. Middle-distance running was particularly prominent as a 1500 metres or a mile run were held at every edition of the tournament.IAAF Grand Prix Final. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2015-01-17.
From 1982 to 1992, the winners of the Grand Prix title in an event were decided by the overall seasonal points rankings gained from competing on the IAAF Grand Prix circuit. This was amended in 1993 when seasonal points served as a method of qualifying for the final, with the event winner being the victor at the Grand Prix Final event. The athlete with the greatest number of points accumulated in the season across all events was declared the overall Grand Prix Final champion.
The Grand Prix Final had had a number of world records set in its history, including the Tim Montgomery 100 metres record that was later taken from him after the BALCO scandal.
Editions EditionYearDatesHost stadiumHost cityHost countryEvents 1985 7 September Olympic Stadium Rome Italy 16 1986 10 September Olympic Stadium Rome Italy 17 1987 11 September King Baudouin Stadium Brussels Belgium 17 1988 26 August Olympic Stadium West Berlin West Berlin 17 1989 1 September Stade Louis II Fontvieille Monaco 17 1990 7 September Olympic Stadium Athens Greece 18 1991 20 September Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys Barcelona Spain 17 1992 4 September Stadio delle Alpi Turin Italy 18 1993 10 September Crystal Palace National Sports Centre London United Kingdom 18 1994 3 September Stade Sébastien Charléty Paris France 17 1995 9 September Stade Louis II Fontvieille Monaco 18 1996 7 September Arena Civica Milan Italy 18 1997 13 September Hakatanomori Athletic Stadium Fukuoka City Japan 18 1998 5 September Luzhniki Stadium Moscow Russia 18 1999 11 September Olympic Stadium Munich Germany 18 2000 5 October Khalifa International Stadium Doha Qatar 18 2001 9 September Olympic Park Stadium Melbourne Australia 19 2002 14 September Stade Sébastien Charléty Paris France 18
Overall points leaders
Men 1985 63 60 591986 63 61 611987 63 59 581988 63 61 581989 69 63 631990 63 61 591991 69 63 631992 63 63 591993 72 72 721994 78 72 721995 84 72 721996 103 99 951997 114 99 951998 136 114 971999 111 109 1082000 101 94 932001 102 101 1002002 116 116 102
Women 1985 69 63 631986 69 65 631987 63 63 611988 63 63 571989 67 63 631990 63 63 631991 63 63 631992 63 61 591993 72 72 721994 72 72 721995 78 72 721996 93 90 851997 99 93 911998 130 107 1011999 108 108 1042000 110 104 1042001 116 105 962002 116 111 108
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