List of international athletics competitions

In the sport of athletics, international competitions between national teams can be distinguished into four main types:

  • Multi-sport events, commonly referred to as games, where athletics events form part of a wider sporting programme
  • World championships, the primary competitions where all nations may compete
  • Continental or regional championships, between nations of a specific geographical area
  • Competitions where the invited nations or athletes are from a shared community, typically based on language, religion, ethnicity, occupation, or political allegiance

Competitions between athletes of different nations which do not feature team selection at the national or continental level, such as the Diamond League, are excluded.

Single-sport competitions

Event First edition Final edition Periodicity Age category Competition type Participating region/people
African Championships in Athletics 1979 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from African nations
African Combined Events Championships 1999 Ongoing Irregular Senior Continental championships Athletes from African nations
African Cross Country Championships 1985 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from African nations
African Half Marathon Championships 1995 1999 Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from African nations
African Marathon Championships 1994 1996 Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from African nations
African Masters Athletics Championships ? Ongoing Biennial Over-40 Continental championships Athletes from African nations
African Mountain Running Championships 2009 2014 Annual Senior Continental championships Athletes from African nations
African Race Walking Championships 1999 2015(?) Irregular Senior Continental championships Athletes from African nations
African Southern Region Athletics Championships 1995 Ongoing Biennial Senior Regional championships Athletes from Southern Africa
African Southern Region Cross Country Championships 1997 Ongoing Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from Southern Africa
African Southern Region Half Marathon Championships 2000 Ongoing Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from Southern Africa
African U20 Championships in Athletics 1994 Ongoing Biennial Under-20 Continental championships Athletes from African nations
African Youth Athletics Championships 2013 Ongoing Biennial Under-18 Continental championships Athletes from African nations
African Zone VI Athletics Championships 1987 1995 Irregular Senior Regional championships Athletes from Southern Africa
Arab Athletics Championships 1977 Ongoing Biennial Senior Community championships Athletes from Arab nations
Arab Cross Country Championships 1978 Ongoing Biennial Senior Community championships Athletes from Arab nations
Arab Junior Athletics Championships 1984 Ongoing Biennial Under-20 Community championships Athletes from Arab nations
Arab Youth Athletics Championships 2004 Ongoing Biennial Under-18 Community championships Athletes from Arab nations
Asia Masters Athletics Championships 1981 Ongoing Biennial Over-40 Continental championships Athletes from Asian nations
Asian Athletics Championships 1973 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from Asian nations
Asian Cross Country Championships 1991 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from Asian nations
Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2004 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from Asian nations
Asian Junior Athletics Championships 1986 Ongoing Biennial Under-20 Continental championships Athletes from Asian nations
Asian Marathon Championships 1988 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from Asian nations
Asian Race Walking Championships 2006 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from Asian nations
Asian University Athletics Championships 2005 2005 One-off Senior Continental championships Student-athletes from Asian nations
Asian Youth Athletics Championships 2015 Ongoing Biennial Under-18 Continental championships Athletes from Asian nations
Athletics World Cup 2018 Ongoing Undecided Senior Team competition Leading athletics nations
Australasian Athletics Championships 1893 1927 Irregular Senior Regional championships Athletes from Australia and New Zealand
Balkanation 2014 2015 Irregular Senior Team competition Athletes from the Balkans[1]
Balkan Athletics Championships 1929 Ongoing Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from the Balkans
Balkan Athletics Indoor Championships 1994 Ongoing Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from the Balkans
Balkan Athletics Indoor U20 Championships 2017 Ongoing Annual Under-20 Regional championships Athletes from the Balkans
Balkan Athletics U18 Championships 2003 Ongoing Annual Under-18 Regional championships Athletes from the Balkans
Balkan Athletics U20 Championships 1970 Ongoing Annual Under-20 Regional championships Athletes from the Balkans
Balkan Cross Country Championships 1940 Ongoing Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from the Balkans
Balkan Half Marathon Championships 2012 Ongoing Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from the Balkans
Balkan Masters Athletics Championships 1991 Ongoing Annual Over-40 Regional championships Athletes from Balkan nations
Balkan Masters Athletics Indoor Championships 2015 Ongoing Annual Over-40 Regional championships Athletes from Balkan nations
Balkan Masters Cross Country Championships 2007 Ongoing Annual Over-40 Regional championships Athletes from Balkan nations
Balkan Mountain Running Championships 2008 Ongoing Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from Balkan nations
Balkan Race Walking Championships 2002 Ongoing Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from Balkan nations
Balkan Relay Championships 2018 Ongoing Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from Balkan nations
Baltic Indoor Athletics Championships 1995 2006 Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from the Baltic states
Baltic Match Throwing 2011 Ongoing Annual Senior Regional team competition Athletes from the Baltic states
British West Indies Championships 1957 1965 Annual Senior Community championships Athletes from the British West Indies
CARIFTA Games 1972 Ongoing Annual Under-20 Community competition Athletes from member nations of the Caribbean Free Trade Association
Central African Athletics Championships 1975 Ongoing Irregular Senior Regional championships Athletes from Central Africa
Central American Age Group Championships in Athletics 1994 Ongoing Annual Under-16 Regional championships Athletes from Central America
Central American and Caribbean Age Group Championships in Athletics 1985 Ongoing Biennial Under-14 Regional championships Athletes from Central America and the Caribbean
Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics 1967 Ongoing Biennial Senior Regional championships Athletes from Central America and the Caribbean
Central American and Caribbean Cross Country Championships 1983 2003 Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from Central America and the Caribbean
Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Athletics 1974 Ongoing Biennial Under-20 Regional championships Athletes from Central America and the Caribbean
Central American Championships in Athletics 1958 Ongoing Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from Central America
Central American Cross Country Championships 2004 Ongoing Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from Central America
Central American Junior and Youth Championships in Athletics 1975 Ongoing Annual Under-20 Regional championships Athletes from Central America
Central American Race Walking Championships 2007 Ongoing Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from Central America
Championships of the Small States of Europe 2016 Ongoing Biennial Senior Regional championships Athletes from small European nations
China–Japan–Korea Friendship Athletic Meeting 2014 Ongoing Annual Senior Regional team competition Athletes from China, Japan and South Korea
Commonwealth Mountain and Ultradistance Running Championships 2009 2011 Biennial Senior Community championships Athletes from the British Commonwealth
COSSASA Games ? Ongoing[2] Annual Schools Regional competition Student athletes from Southern Africa
DécaNation 2005 Ongoing Annual Senior Team competition Leading athletics nations and regions
Dutch Caribbean Age Group Championships 2002 Ongoing Biennial Under-15 Community championships Athletes from the Dutch Caribbean
East African Athletics Championships 1995 ? Biennial Senior Regional championships Athletes from East African nations
East African Cross Country Championships 1984(?) Ongoing Irregular Senior Regional championships Athletes from East Africa
East African Half Marathon Championships 2000 ? Irregular Senior Regional championships Athletes from East African nations
East and Central Africa Junior Athletics Championships 2013 Ongoing Irregular Under-20 Regional championships Athletes from East African and Central African nations
East and Central African Championships 1955 1990 Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from East African and Central African nations
European 10,000m Cup 1997 Ongoing Annual Senior Continental team competition Athletes from European nations
European Athletics Championships 1934 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from European nations
European Athletics Indoor Championships 1966 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from European nations
European Athletics Indoor Cup 2003 2008 Biennial Senior Continental team competition Athletes from European nations
European Athletics U18 Championships 2016 Ongoing Biennial Under-18 Continental championships Athletes from European nations
European Athletics U20 Championships 1964 Ongoing Biennial Under-20 Continental championships Athletes from European nations
European Athletics U23 Championships 1997 Ongoing Biennial Under-23 Continental championships Athletes from European nations
European Champion Clubs Cup 1975 Ongoing Annual Senior Continental team competition Athletes from European clubs
European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country 1962 Ongoing Annual Senior Continental team competition Athletes from European clubs
European Champion Clubs Cup for Juniors 1979 Ongoing Annual Under-20 Continental team competition Athletes from European clubs
European Combined Events Team Championships 1973 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental team competition Athletes from European nations
European Cross Country Championships 1994 Ongoing Annual Senior Continental championships Athletes from European nations
European Cup 1965 2008 Annual Senior Continental team competition Athletes from European nations
European Half Marathon Cup 2016 Ongoing Quadrennial Senior Continental team competition Athletes from European nations
European Marathon Cup 1981 Ongoing Quadrennial Senior Continental team competition Athletes from European nations
European Masters Athletics Championship Non Stadia 1989 Ongoing Biennial Over-40 Regional championships Athletes from European nations
European Masters Athletics Championships 1978 Ongoing Annual Over-40 Continental championships Athletes from European nations
European Masters Indoor Championships 1997 Ongoing Biennial Over-40 Regional championships Athletes from European nations
European Masters Mountain Running Championships 2006 Ongoing Irregular Over-40 Continental championships Athletes from European nations
European Mountain Running Championships 1995 Ongoing Annual Senior Continental championships Athletes from European nations
European Race Walking Cup 1996 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental team competition Athletes from European nations
European Team Championships 2009 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental team competition Athletes from European nations
European Throwing Cup 2001 Ongoing Annual Senior Continental team competition Athletes from European nations
Fajr Indoor Athletics Championships 1992 Ongoing Annual Senior Community championships Muslim athletes
Finland-Sweden Athletics International 1925 Ongoing Annual Senior Team competition Athletes from Finland and Sweden
Gulf Cooperation Council Athletics Championships 1986 Ongoing Biennial Senior Community championships Athletes from member nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council
Gulf Cooperation Council Youth Athletics Championships 2000 Ongoing Biennial Under-18 Community championships Athletes from member nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council
IAADS World Athletics Championships 2010 Ongoing Biennial Senior Global championships Athletes with Down syndrome from all nations
IAAF Continental Cup 1977 Ongoing Quadrennial Senior Global team competition Athletes from all nations in continental teams
World Athletics Championships 1983 Ongoing Biennial Senior Global championships Athletes of all nations
World Athletics Cross Country Championships 1973 Ongoing Biennial Senior Global championships Athletes of all nations
World Athletics Half Marathon Championships 1992 Ongoing Biennial Senior Global championships Athletes of all nations
World Athletics Indoor Championships 1985 Ongoing Biennial Senior Global championships Athletes of all nations
IAAF World Marathon Cup 1985 2011 Biennial Senior Global team competition Athletes from all nations
World Athletics Relays 2014 Ongoing Biennial Senior Global team competition Athletes of all nations
IAAF World Road Relay Championships 1986 1998 Biennial Senior Global championships Athletes of all nations
World Athletics U20 Championships 1986 Ongoing Biennial Under-20 Global championships Athletes of all nations
IAAF World Women's Road Race Championships 1983 1991 Annual Senior Global championships Athletes of all nations
IAAF World Youth Championships in Athletics 1999 2017 Biennial Under-18 Global championships Athletes of all nations
IAU 24 Hour World Championship 2001 Ongoing Biennial Senior Global championships Athletes of all nations
IAU 50 km World Championships 2005 Ongoing Annual Senior Global championships Athletes of all nations
IAU 100 km Asian Championships 2010 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from Asian nations
IAU 100 km European Championships 1992 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from European nations
IAU 100 km World Championships 1987 Ongoing Annual Senior Global championships Athletes of all nations
IAU European 24 Hour Championships 1992 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from European nations
IAU Trail World Championships 2007 Ongoing Annual Senior Global championships Athletes of all nations
Ibero-American Championships in Athletics 1960 Ongoing Biennial Senior Community championships Athletes from Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking nations
INAS European Athletics Indoor Championships 2000 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes with intellectual disabilities from Europe
INAS European Athletics Outdoor Championships 1998 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes with intellectual disabilities from Europe
INAS European Cross Country Championships 2001 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes with intellectual disabilities from Europe
INAS European Half Marathon Championships 2005 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes with intellectual disabilities from Europe
INAS World Athletics Indoor Championships 2001 Ongoing Biennial Senior Global championships Athletes with intellectual disabilities
INAS World Athletics Outdoor Championships 1989 Ongoing Quadrennial Senior Global championships Athletes with intellectual disabilities
INAS World Cross Country Championships 2002 Ongoing Biennial Senior Global championships Athletes with intellectual disabilities
INAS World Half Marathon Championships 2006 Ongoing Biennial Senior Global championships Athletes with intellectual disabilities
International Cross Country Championships 1903 1972 Annual Senior International championships Athletes from Europe, North Africa, and North America
Leeward Islands Age Group Championships 1993 Ongoing Annual Under-15 Regional championships Athletes from Leeward Islands nations
Leeward Islands Junior/Youth Championships 2001 Ongoing Annual Under-20 Regional championships Athletes from Leeward Islands nations
Maghreb Athletics Championships 1967 1990 Irregular Senior Regional championships Athletes from the Maghreb
Mediterranean Athletics Championships 1935 1949 Irregular Senior Regional championships Athletes from Mediterranean nations
Mediterranean Athletics U23 Championships 2014 Ongoing Biennial Under-23 Regional championships Athletes from Mediterranean nations
Mediterranean Athletics U23 Indoor Championships 2019 Ongoing Biennial Under-23 Regional championships Athletes from Mediterranean nations
Melanesian Athletics Championships 2001 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from Melanesian nations
Micronesian Athletics Championships 2003 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from Micronesian nations
NACAC Championships in Athletics 2007 Ongoing Irregular Senior Continental championships Athletes from North and Central American and Caribbean nations
NACAC Cross Country Championships 2005 Ongoing Annual Senior Continental championships Athletes from North and Central American and Caribbean nations
NCCWMA Championships 1979 Ongoing Biennial Over-40 Continental championships Athletes from North and Central America and the Caribbean
NACAC Mountain Running Championships 2004 Ongoing Annual Senior Continental championships Athletes from North and Central American and Caribbean nations
NACAC U18 Championships in Athletics 2019 Ongoing Biennial Under-18 Continental championships Athletes from North and Central American and Caribbean nations
NACAC U23 Championships in Athletics 2000 Ongoing Biennial Under-23 Continental championships Athletes from North and Central American and Caribbean nations
Nordic 10000m Challenge 1997 Ongoing Annual Senior Community competition Athletes from Nordic countries
Nordic Athletics Championships 1961 1965 Biennial Senior Community championships Athletes from Nordic countries
Nordic Combined Events Championships 1949 1970 Biennial Senior Community championships Athletes from Nordic countries
Nordic Indoor Athletics Championships 1986 1987 Annual Senior Community championships Athletes from Nordic countries
Nordic Indoor Race Walking Championships 1974 1978 Biennial Senior Community championships Athletes from Nordic countries
Nordic Junior Athletics Championships 2004 Ongoing Annual Under-20 Community championships Athletes from Nordic countries
Nordic Junior Combined Events Championships 1974 Ongoing Annual Under-20 Community championships Athletes from Nordic countries
Nordic Junior Race Walking Championships 1966 2003 Annual Under-20 Community championships Athletes from Nordic countries
Nordic Marathon Championships 1949 1979 Biennial Senior Community championships Athletes from Nordic countries
Nordic Race Walking Championships 1957 Ongoing Annual Senior Community championships Athletes from Nordic countries
Nordic Women's Cup 1974 1982 Biennial Senior Community competition Athletes from Nordic countries
Nordic–Baltic Under-23 Athletics Championships 1998 Ongoing Biennial Under-23 Community competition Athletes from Nordic countries and Baltic states
North African Athletics Championships 2003 2004 Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from North African nations
North African Combined Events and Race Walking Championships 2004 2004 One-off Senior Regional championships Athletes from North African nations
North African Cross Country Championships 1985(?) Ongoing Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from North Africa
North American 5K Championships 2002 2005 Annual Senior Regional championships Athletes from North America
North American Men's Marathon Relay Championships 2003 2004 Annual Senior Continental championships Athletes from North and Central American and Caribbean nations
Oceania Area Championships in Athletics 1990 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from Oceanian nations
Oceania Combined Events Championships 2011 Ongoing Annual Senior Continental championships Athletes from Oceanian nations
Oceania Cross Country Championships 2009 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from Oceanian nations
Oceania Junior Athletics Championships 1994 Ongoing Biennial Under-20 Continental championships Athletes from Oceanian nations
Oceania Marathon and Half Marathon Championships 2008 Ongoing Annual Senior Continental championships Athletes from Oceanian nations
Oceania Masters Athletics Championships 1982 Ongoing Biennial Over-40 Continental championships Athletes from Oceanian nations
Oceania Race Walking Championships 2011 Ongoing Annual Senior Continental championships Athletes from Oceanian nations
Oceania Youth Athletics Championships 1993 Ongoing Biennial Under-18 Continental championships Athletes from Oceanian nations
Pacific Conference Games 1969 1985 Quadrennial Senior Regional competition Athletes from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States
Pan American Combined Events Cup 2005 Ongoing Annual Senior Regional team competition Athletes from the Americas
Pan American Cross Country Cup 2015 Ongoing Biennial Senior Regional team competition Athletes from the Americas
Pan American Race Walking Cup 1984 Ongoing Biennial Senior Regional team competition Athletes from the Americas
Pan American U20 Athletics Championships 1980 Ongoing Biennial Under-20 Regional championships Athletes from the Americas
Pan American Youth Championships in Athletics 2015 Ongoing Biennial Under-18 Regional championships Athletes from the Americas
Polynesian Athletics Championships 2000 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from Polynesian nations
Skyrunning World Championships 2010 Ongoing Biennial Senior Global championships Athletes of all nations
South America Masters Athletics Championships 1982 Ongoing Biennial Over-40 Continental championships Athletes from South American nations
South American Championships in Athletics 1918 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from South American nations
South American Cross Country Championships 1986 Ongoing Annual Senior Continental championships Athletes from South American nations
South American Half Marathon Championships 1995 Ongoing Annual Senior Continental championships Athletes from South American nations
South American Marathon Championships 1994 Ongoing Annual Senior Continental championships Athletes from South American nations
South American Mountain Running Championships 2006 Ongoing Annual Senior Continental championships Athletes from South American nations
South American Race Walking Championships 1989 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes from South American nations
South American Road Mile Championships 2000(?) Ongoing Annual Senior Continental championships Athletes from South American nations
South American U18 Championships in Athletics 1973 Ongoing Biennial Under-18 Continental championships Athletes from South American nations
South American U20 Championships in Athletics 1969 Ongoing Biennial Under-20 Continental championships Athletes from South American nations
South American Under-23 Championships in Athletics 2004 Ongoing Biennial Under-23 Continental championships Athletes from South American nations
South American University Athletics Championships 2005 2005 One-off Senior Regional championships Student-athletes from South American nations
South Pacific Athletics Championships 1976 1984 Irregular Senior Regional championships Athletes from South Pacific nations
South Asian Junior Athletics Championships 2007 Ongoing Irregular Under-20 Regional championships Athletes from South Asia[3]
Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championships 2006 Ongoing Annual Under-18 Regional championships Athletes from Southeast Asia
The Match Europe v USA 2019 Ongoing Biennial Senior Team competition Athletes from Europe and the United States
Towerrunning World Championships 2015 Ongoing Biennial Senior Global championships Athletes of all nations
USA–USSR Track and Field Dual Meet Series 1958 1985 Irregular Senior Team competition Athletes from the United States and the Soviet Union
West African Athletics Championships 1997 Ongoing Biennial Senior Regional championships Athletes from West African nations
West African Cross Country Championships 1996 1996 One-off Senior Regional championships Athletes from West African nations
West and North African Athletics Championships 1995 1995 One-off Senior Regional championships Athletes from West and North African nations
West Asian Athletics Championships 2010 Ongoing Irregular Senior Regional championships Athletes from West Asia
Women's World Games 1922 1934 Quadrennial Senior Global competition Female athletes from all nations
World Deaf Athletics Championships 2008 Ongoing Quadrennial Senior Global championships Deaf athletes of all nations
World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships 2004 Ongoing Annual Senior Global championships Athletes of all nations
World Masters 100 Kilometres Championships 1998 Ongoing Biennial Over-40 Global championships Athletes from all nations
World Masters Athletics Championships 1975 Ongoing Biennial Over-35 Global championships Athletes of all nations
World Masters Indoor Athletics Championships 2004 Ongoing Biennial Over-35 Global championships Athletes of all nations
World Masters Non-Stadia Athletics Championships 1992 2004 Biennial Over-35 Global championships Athletes of all nations
World Military Track and Field Championships 1946 Ongoing Irregular Senior Global championships Military athletes of all nations
World Mountain Running Championships 1985 Ongoing Annual Senior Global championships Athletes of all nations
World Para Athletics Championships 1994 Ongoing Biennial Senior Global championships Athletes with a disability of all nations
World Para Athletics European Championships 2003 Ongoing Biennial Senior Continental championships Athletes with disabilities from European nations
World Para Athletics Junior Championships 2017 Ongoing Biennial Under-20 Global championships Athletes with a disability of all nations

Athletics at multi-sport events

Event First edition Final edition Periodicity Age category Competition type Participating region/people
Athletics at the African Games 1965 Ongoing Quadrennial Senior Continental multi-sport event Athletes from African nations
Athletics at the Afro-Asian Games 2003 2003 One-off Senior Community multi-sport event Athletes of Africa and Asia
Athletics at the ALBA Games 2005 Ongoing Biennial Senior Community multi-sport event Athletes from members of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas
Spartakiad 1956 1991 Quadrennial Senior Mass competition Athletes from the Soviet Union and foreign athletes

See also

References

  1. ^ Balkan Championships. Balkan Athletics. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  2. ^ Hon. Minister opens 20th edition of COSSASA games. Government of Eswatini. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  3. ^ India dominates inaugural South Asian junior championships. World Athletics (2007-11-30). Retrieved 2021-01-25.