World Athletics Championships

The World Athletics Championships, called the IAAF World Championships in Athletics until 2019, are a biennial track and field competition run by World Athletics. Along with the Olympic Games they are the highest level of senior international outdoor athletics, covering track, field, marathon and race walking events. The idea began in 1976 when the Olympic programme dropped the men's 50 kilometre walk, and a limited event followed in 1980, but the inaugural full championships in Helsinki in 1983 count as the official start. They were held every four years until 1991, when they moved to a two-year cycle. In 1983 some 1,333 athletes from 153 countries took part, and by 2003 the Paris edition drew 1,679 athletes from 198 countries.