IAAF to introduce world rankings from next year

Athletics is to introduce a world rankings system in 2018 as part of awidespread effort to bring some sense and shape to its currentlynebulous calendar, and continue to move away from the sport’sscandal-hit past.The introduction of the rankings in partnership with All Athletics,announced yesterday, is part of a sweeping reform package that was votedin by the IAAF last December to change the way the sport’s governingbody operates.The rankings will be a point-based system in which athletes collectpoints across different levels of meet throughout the season todetermine qualification for premier competitions such as the Olympicsand World Championships.It is also hoped that the introduction of the rankings will bring somefocus to the Diamond League, where currently leading athletes often donot compete against each other, leaving fans feeling short-changed andoften confused.International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President SebCoe has made no secret of his frustration with many aspects of theDiamond League’s current format and is desperate to reform it.When it comes to major championships, athletes are currently selected bytheir national associations, if they achieve a qualification time ormark.“The IAAF World Rankings will drive and shape the global competitionsystem including entry into the World Championships and Olympic Games,”Coe said in a statement.“For the first time in the sport’s history, athletes, media and fanswill have a clear understanding of the hierarchy of competitions...allowing them to follow a logical season-long path to the pinnacle ofAthletics’ top two competitions.”The athletes’ position in the rankings will be determined by variousperformance aspects along with the level of competition they areparticipating in.The points system for each event along with other details related to therankings will be finalised in the first quarter of 2018, meaning thenew system can be applied for qualification into the 2019 WorldChampionships and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.The sport’s governing body will also establish a new department namedIAAF Heritage to use athletics’ history, drive understanding of thesport and promote it around the world. “The Rankings will bring much needed clarity to what is today aconfusing competition picture even for those from within the sport,while Heritage will be an important tool to help inform, inspire andengage interest through the extraordinarily story of Athletics,” IAAFCEO Olivier Gers said.