2005 World Championships in Athletics

The 10th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), were once again held in the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland (August 6, 2005 – August 14, 2005), the site of the first IAAF World Championships back in 1983. One theme of the 2005 championships was paralympic sports, some of which were included as exhibition events.

Background

With the addition of the women's 3000 metres steeplechase to the schedule, this year's program of events was closer to parity for women and men. With the exception of the 50 km walk the women competed in practically the same events as the men. Two differences remaining from before, though, were the short hurdles race (100 metres for women vs. 110 metres for men), and the multi-event competition (heptathlon for women vs. decathlon for men).

Related Topics:
3000 metres steeplechase - 50 km walk - Heptathlon - Decathlon

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Since the first World Championships in Helsinki 1983, seven new events have been added for women:

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• 10000 metres, introduced in 1987
• 5000 metres, replaced 3000 metres in 1991
• triple jump, introduced in 1993
• 20 km walk introduced in 1999, replaced 10 km walk that first appeared in 1987
• pole vault, introduced in 1999
• hammer throw, introduced in 1999
• 3000 metres steeplechase, introduced in 2005

The games were originally set to be staged in London, England but wrangling within the government saw them unable to agree to build the required stadium and they therefore forfeited their chance of being hosts.

Related Topics:
London - England - Government

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Helsinki was considered by many to be the outsider in the race to host the games with rival bids being presented by Berlin in Germany; Brussels in Belgium, Budapest in Hungary, Moscow in Russia and Rome in Italy.

Related Topics:
Berlin - Germany - Brussels - Belgium - Budapest - Hungary - Moscow - Russia - Rome - Italy

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