Weltklasse Zürich Explained
Weltklasse Zürich (English: World Class Zurich) is an annual, invitation-only, world-class track and field meeting at the Letzigrund in Zürich, Switzerland, generally held at the end of August or beginning of September. Previously one of the IAAF Golden League events, it now serves as a final of the Wanda Diamond League, alongside Memorial Van Damme between 2010 and 2019. In 2021 and 2022, Weltklasse Zürich served as the sole final of the Diamond League,[2] and this is also planned for 2025 and 2027.[3]
One of the first large-scale international athletics events (outside the Summer Olympics), it is sometimes referred to as the one-day Olympics. Weltklasse Zürich first took place on 12 August 1928. In the beginning, the meeting was nicknamed by the public the "Nurmi meeting" after the most admired and celebrated participant at the time, Paavo Nurmi. On 21 June 1960, on the Letzigrund track, Armin Hary became the first human to run the 100 m dash in 10.0 seconds.[4]
UBS has supported Weltklasse Zürich as its main sponsor since 1981.[5] Other sponsors are Vaudoise Assurances, Migros, Le Gruyère Switzerland, Medica, Omega, Swiss, Lexus, Erdgas and Puma.[6]
History
The meeting was conceived in 1924 by the athletic section of the FC Zürich which became the Leichtathletik Club Zürich in 1934, and was first held at the Letzigrund on a dirt track on 12 August 1928 as the Internationales Leichtathletik-Meeting in Zürich.[7] [8] Since 1935 it also became known as the "American Meeting",[9] [10] [11] similar to the Bislett Games, and this continued into the 1950's.[12] [13] A notable hiatus occurred after the 1952 meeting[14] until the rebuilt Letzigrund Stadium opened in 1958,[15] although a meeting had still been planned for August 1954.[16] The name "Weltklasse Zürich" was adopted in 1959.[17] The meet would not be held regularly on an annual basis until 1973, and the Weltklasse introduced electronic timing the following year.[7]
During 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Weltklasse Zürich from taking place, instead an event called Inspiration Games was held.[18]
Track surface
The first surface was made of dirt in 1928, and the first synthetic track surface in Europe was installed in 1968.[19] [7] The number of lanes was increased to eight in the early 1970s which forced the Weltklasse to be put on hold for two years for the construction to take place.[20] [7]
The current surface at the Letzigrund Stadium was developed in 2014 by the Swiss company CONICA.[21] [22] [23] The new surface was installed in June 2014 at a cost of 800,000 CHF and was paid for by the city of Zurich, which owns Letzigrund Stadium.[24]
Editions
Some of the earliest editions were bilateral matches that are not counted among the 29 "Internationales" and Weltklasse meetings organized from 1928 til 1977.[25]
World records
Over the course of its history, numerous world records have been set at Weltklasse Zürich.[104]
Meeting records
Men
Women
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Events Calendar Diamond League Meetings. World Athletics. 2024.
- Web site: Weltklasse Zürich to host Wanda Diamond League Finals in 2021 and 2022 instead of September 2020. Diamond League. en. 2024-08-05.
- Web site: Weltklasse Zürich to host Wanda Diamond League Finals again in 2025 and 2027 . en . 2022-05-09 . 2024-08-05 . Diamond League.
- Web site: 60 years on, Hary recounts his historic 10.0 100m world record . 2020-06-21 . 2024-08-17 . . Brockmann . Olaf.
- Web site: Weltklasse Zürich. global. en. 2017-06-04.
- Web site: Sponsors - Diamond League - Zurich. zurich.diamondleague.com. en. 2017-06-04.
- https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/life-aging/weltklasse-1928-2003/3458474 "Weltklasse: 1928-2003"
- News: wh.. 13 August 1928. Internationales Leichtathletik-Meeting in Zürich auf dem Sportplatz Letzigrund. International track and field meeting in Zürich at the sports ground Letzigrund . live . . de-ch . . 24 . 219 . 3 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240808170059/http://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=NZN19280813-01.2.21 . 8 August 2024 . 9 August 2024.
- News: 5 August 1935 . Zürichs Amerikaner-Meeting . Zürich's American Meeting . . de-ch . . 1354 . 10 . 9 August 2024.
- News: 8 August 1939 . Sprinter von Weltklasse am Zürcher Amerikaner-Meeting . World-class sprinters at Zürich's American Meeting . Am ersten Start amerikanischer Leichtathleten in der Schweiz 1935 in Basel und Zürich... . During the first participation of American athletes in 1935 Switzerland at Basel und Zürich... . . de-ch . . 160 . 1440 . 6 . 16 August 2024.
- Web site: Weltklasse: 1928-2003 . 2003-08-14 . 2024-08-09 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240809154157/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/life-aging/weltklasse-1928-2003/3458474 . 2024-08-09 . live . In the thirties it was dubbed «American Meeting» as many American athletes crossed the Atlantic by boat, and some of them also started in Switzerland..
- News: 30 July 1951 . Das Amerikaner-Meeting in Zürich . The American Meeting in Zürich . . de-ch . . 47 . 175 . 5 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 18 July 1958 . Zweites Zürcher Amerikaner-Meeting . Zürich's second American Meeting . . de-ch . . 179 . 2105 . 3 . 14 August 2024.
- News: 15 July 1957 . Amerikanischer Leichtathletenbesuch . Visit by American athletes . so kamen die Schweizer Leichtathleten zu einem unverhofften Genuß, der ihnen seit dem Meeting im Jahre 1952 in Zürich vorenthalten geblieben war. . Thus, the Swiss athletes were able to enjoy an unexpected pleasure that had been denied to them since the 1952 meeting in Zurich. . . de-ch . . 178 . 2051 . 19 . 16 August 2024.
- Web site: History - Weltklasse Zürich . 16 August 2024 . 1958: The first meeting in the new Letzigrund stadium, designed for 23,000 spectators with six circular tracks, takes place in pouring rain..
- News: 15 May 1954 . Der Leichtathletik-«Fahrplan» des Letzigrunds . The Letzigrund athletics schedule . Internationales Meeting am 31. August . International meeting on August 31 . . de-ch . . 175 . 1257 . 14 . 16 August 2024.
- Web site: History - Weltklasse Zürich . 9 August 2024 . The meeting is held for the first time on 7 July 1959 under the name "Weltklasse Zürich"..
- Web site: Results: Weltklasse Zurich Inspiration Games 2020 . 9 July 2020 . 17 August 2024 . watchathletics.com.
- News: 11 May 1968 . Auch das sportliche Ansehen hat Folgen . The sporting reputation also has consequences . In einem Brief ersucht der Stadtrat den Gemeinderat, einen Nachtragskredit von rund einer halben Million Franken für den Einbau eines Tartanbelages auf dem Letzigrund zu gewähren . In a letter, the city council requests the municipal council to grant a supplementary credit of around half a million francs for the installation of a tartan surface on the Letzigrund . . de-ch . . 64 . 110 . 7 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 11 August 1972 . Zürich - Höhepunkt der Schweizer Leichtathletiksaison . Zürich - Highlight of the Swiss athletics season . ist das Zürcher Letzigrundstadion, nach einer Unterbrechung von zwei Jahren wieder Schauplatz einer Leichtathletikveranstaltung von Format. ... Solche Festtage der Leichtathletik verspricht auch die Begegnung Schweiz - Bundesrepublik am 12./13. August in dem umgebauten und auf acht Kunststoffbahnen erweiterten Letzigrundstadion zu werden. . Zurich's Letzigrund Stadium, after a break of two years, is once again the venue for a major athletics event. ... The match between Switzerland and Germany on 12/13 August in the rebuilt Letzigrund Stadium, which has been expanded to include eight synthetic tracks, also promises to be a celebration of athletics. . . de-ch . . 193 . 372 . 27 . 16 August 2024.
- Web site: CONICA Track Systems - CONIPUR M. conica.com. 2014-05-12.
- Web site: Head to Head: Mondo versus Mongo. runnersworld.com. 12 March 2014. 2014-05-12.
- Web site: Bolt to Compete on Zurich's New Track - IAAF Diamond League. IAAF. 12 May 2014. 2014-05-12.
- Web site: High Hopes for Low Times for Bolt on New Zurich Surface As he Announces He Will Run Weltklasse. insidethegames.biz. 12 May 2014. 2014-05-12.
- News: 50 Jahre Weltklasse in Zürich – die Geschichte des «Internationalen» . Landolf . Hans-Ulrich . 11 August 1978 . 48-49 . 2024-08-17 . . Bosshardt . Werner . 184 . 199 . de-ch . 50 Years Weltklasse Zürich - The History of the «Internationalen» . 28 weitere Meetings (Länderkämpfe nicht mitgezählt) [...] sind seither gefolgt. . 28 further meetings (not counting bilateral matches) followed since then..
- News: 14 August 1929 . Internationales Abendmeeting in Zürich . . de-ch . . 150 . 1565 . 2 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 29 August 1932 . Internationales Ahendmeeting in Zürieh . . de-ch . . 153 . 1590 . 6 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 25 February 1932 . Die Schweizer Leichtathletisssaison 1934 . . de-ch . . 85 . 93 . 4 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 30 July 1937 . Schweizer Saison-Kalender . Veranstaltungen in Zürich 29. August: Letzigrund: Internationales Leichtathletik-Meeting . . de-ch . . 158 . 1372 . 6 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 7 August 1939 . Internationales Leichathletik-Meeting in Zürich . . de-ch . . 160 . 1434 . 7 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 14 August 1939 . Internationale Leich tathletik-Meetings in Basel und Zürich . . de-ch . . 1600 . 1469 . 14 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 18 July 1946 . Internationales Leichtathletik-Abendmeeting . . de-ch . . 42 . 165 . 5 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 22 July 1949 . Internationales Zürcher Leichtathletik-Meeting . . de-ch . . 167 . 1296 . 10 . 14 August 2024.
- News: 4 July 1947 . Leichtathleten im internationalen Kräftemessen . . de-ch . . 43 . 153 . 6 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 7 July 1947 . Internationales Meeting in Zürich . . de-ch . . 43 . 155 . 1 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 28 June 1948 . Internationales Leichtathletik-Meeting in Zürich . . de-ch . . 169 . 1377 . 9 . 16 August 2024.
- Web site: History - Weltklasse Zürich . 2024-08-09 . 1949: The 13,000 spectators not only watch two Olympic champions and two world record holders, but also the football match between Young Fellows and FC Nuremberg..
- News: 3 August 1949 . Schweizertournee der Amerikanerathleten perfekt . Diese Weltklasseathleten treten...am 21. August im Rahmen einer grossen Sportveranstaltung mit den Schweiz. Juniorenmeisterschaften und dem internationalen Fussballtreffen Young Fellows — FC Nürnberg in Zürich... . . de-ch . . 45 . 178 . 2 . 14 August 2024.
- News: 22 June 1951 . Internationales Abendmeeting in Zürich . . de-ch . . 47 . 143 . 7 . 14 August 2024.
- News: 21 June 1951 . Internationales Zürcher Leichtathletik-Meeting . . de-ch . . 16 . 165 . 8 . 14 August 2024.
- News: 30 July 1951 . Glanzresultate der Schweizer gegen USA-Leichtathleten . . de-ch . . 102 . 349 . 7 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 13 August 1952 . Das Zürcher Leichtathletikmeeting . . de-ch . . 173 . 1743 . 2 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 28 June 1958 . Starke Schweizer am Zürcher USA-Meeting . . de-ch . . 179 . 1898 . 7 . 14 August 2024.
- News: 3 July 1958 . Amerikaner-Meeting im Gewitterregen . . de-ch . . 54 . 152 . 3 . 14 August 2024.
- News: 9 July 1959 . Weltklasse-Meeting in Zürich vor 10000 Zuschauern . . de-ch . . 55 . 157 . 3 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 8 July 1959 . Rekorde fielen - Internationales Leichtathletik-Meeting in Zürich . Oberländer Tagblatt . de-ch . . 83 . 156 . 12 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 18 June 1960 . Weltklasse am Zürcher Internationalen . . de-ch . . 56 . 140 . 2 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 28 June 1961 . Leichtathletik im Regen . . de-ch . . 182 . 2433 . 6 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 11 July 1962 . Peter Laeng in großer Form läuft Welt-Saisonbestleistung; Internationales Leichtathletik-Meeting in Zürich . Berner Tagwacht . de-ch . . 70 . 159 . 6 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 3 July 1963 . Berühmte Leichtathleten in Zürich . . de-ch . . 184 . 2720 . 6 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 3 July 1963 . Internationales Leichtathletik-Meeting in Zürich . . de-ch . . 59 . 152 . 7 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 24 June 1964 . Leichtathletik- Weltklasse in Zürich . . de-ch . . 29 . 160 . 8 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 23 June 1964 . Internationales Meeting in Zürich . . de-ch . . 60 . 145 . 8 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 30 June 1965 . Internationales Leichtathletik-Meeting in Zürich . . de-ch . . 186 . 2790 . 6 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 1 July 1966 . Viele Glanzleistungen am Int. Leichtathletik-Meeting in Zürich . . de-ch . . 62 . 150 . 12 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 6 July 1967 . Das diesjährige Letzigrund-Internationale blieb ohne Sensation . . de-ch . . 63 . 154 . 9 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 28 June 1968 . 9,9 auch in Zürich? . . de-ch . . 189 . 393 . 27 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 4 July 1969 . Zürcher Internationales mit 216 Athleten aus 17 Ländern . Freiburger Nachrichten . de-ch . . 106 . 152 . 7 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 7 July 1969 . Clerc mit 20,3 Europarekordhalter über 200 m . . de-ch . . 190 . 406 . 27 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 3 July 1970 . Auch John Pennel in Zürich . . de-ch . . 191 . 303 . 35 . 16 August 2024.
- Web site: Race Series 5km: Weltklasse Zurich . 2024-08-08 . Association of Road Racing Statisticians.
- News: 9 July 1973 . «Zürich 73» — ein Erfolg in jeder Hinsicht . . de-ch . . 194 . 311 . 23 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 9 July 1973 . Sternstunden der Leichtathletik . . de-ch . . 38 . 157 . 9 . 16 August 2024.
- News: 14 August 1974 . Zürcher «Internationales» - ein Meeting der Rekorde . . de-ch . . 195 . 374 . 21 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 21 August 1975 . Kein Zürcher «Internationales» ohne Weltrekord! . . de-ch . . 70 . 192 . 7 . 15 August 2024.
- News: 18 August 1976 . «Weltklasse in Zürich» - mit 15 Olympiasiegern . . de-ch . . 197 . 192 . 33 . 15 August 2024.
- Web site: Race Series 3km: Weltklasse Zurich . 2024-08-08 . Association of Road Racing Statisticians.
- Web site: 1988 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 1989 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 1990 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 1991 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 1992 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 1993 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 1994 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 1995 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 1996 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 1997 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 1998 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 1999 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 2000 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 2001 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 2002 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 2003 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 2004 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 2005 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 2006 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 2007 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 2008 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 2009 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 2010 Results . 2024-08-07 . worldathletics.org.
- Web site: 2011 Results . 2024-08-07 . worldathletics.org.
- Web site: 2012 Results . 2024-08-07 . worldathletics.org.
- Web site: 2013 Results . 2024-08-07 . worldathletics.org.
- Web site: 2014 Results . 2024-08-07 . worldathletics.org.
- Web site: 2015 Results . 2024-08-07 . worldathletics.org.
- Web site: 2016 Results . 2024-08-07 . worldathletics.org.
- Web site: 2017 Results . 2024-08-07 . worldathletics.org.
- Web site: 2018 Results . 2024-08-07 . worldathletics.org.
- Web site: 2019 Results . 2024-08-07 . worldathletics.org.
- Web site: 2020 Results . 2024-08-07 . dl.all-athletics.com.
- Web site: 2021 Results . 2024-08-07 . worldathletics.org.
- Web site: 2022 Results . 2024-08-07 . worldathletics.org.
- Web site: 2023 Results . 2024-08-07 . worldathletics.org.
- Web site: Weltklasse Zürich World Records. www.diamondleague-zurich.com. 2010-08-19. 2012-10-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20121011092753/http://www.diamondleague-zurich.com/Global/Zurich/documents/Weltrekorduebersicht.pdf. dead.
- Web site: Men's 100m – Results. IAAF. 30 August 2012. 1 September 2012.
- Web site: Men's 100m – Results . Diamond League – Zurich . 30 August 2012 . 31 August 2012 . 30 August 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120830101400/http://www.diamondleague-zurich.com/en/Results/Overview/100m/ . dead .
- News: Amusan and Lyles break meeting records en route to Diamond League wins in Zurich. World Athletics. Jess Whittington. Jon Mulkeen. 8 September 2022. 16 September 2022.
- Web site: Warholm sizzles 46.92 in Zurich - IAAF Diamond League. IAAF. Bob Ramsak. 29 August 2019. 4 September 2019.
- Web site: Duplantis and Rojas retain Diamond League titles with dominant performances in Zurich. World Athletics. Jess Whittington. Jon Mulkeen. 8 September 2022. 16 September 2022.
- Web site: Echevarria leaps world-leading 8.65m in Zurich - IAAF Diamond League. IAAF. Bob Ramsak. 29 August 2019. 7 September 2019.
- Web site: Triple Jump Results. sportresult.com. 1 September 2016. 1 September 2016.
- News: Kovacs throws 23.23m in superb shot put showdown on Sechselautenplatz. World Athletics. Jess Whittington. 7 September 2022. 16 September 2022.
- Web site: 100m Result. sportresult.com. 9 September 2021. 23 September 2021.
- News: Amusan and Lyles break meeting records en route to Diamond League wins in Zurich. World Athletics. Jess Whittington. Jon Mulkeen. 8 September 2022. 16 September 2022.
- Web site: 3000m Results. sportresult.com. 3 September 2015. 3 September 2015.
- Web site: 5000m Women: Results. 8 September 2011. 8 September 2011. Diamond League. Omega Timing. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120402084113/http://diamond-league.com/Results/Zurich/re1170040.pdf. 2 April 2012.
- News: Amusan and Lyles break meeting records en route to Diamond League wins in Zurich. World Athletics. Jess Whittington. Jon Mulkeen. 8 September 2022. 16 September 2022.
- Web site: 400m Hurdles Result. sportresult.com. 9 September 2021. 23 September 2021.
- Web site: 3000m Steeplechase Results. sportresult.com. 24 August 2017. 25 August 2017. 25 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170825193303/http://static.sportresult.com/sports/at/data/2017/zurich/re1290040.pdf. dead.
- Web site: High Jump Result. sportresult.com. 8 September 2021. 23 September 2021.
- Web site: Pole Vault Results. sportresult.com. 30 August 2023. 3 September 2023.
- Web site: Triple Jump Result. sportresult.com. 9 September 2021. 23 September 2021.
- competition held at Zurich's main train station
- News: Valerie Adams produces 2013 best to win the Diamond Race - IAAF Diamond League. IAAF. Phil Minshull. 28 August 2013. 29 August 2013.
- Web site: Javelin Women: Results. 8 September 2011. 8 September 2011. Diamond League. Omega Timing. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120325050409/http://diamondleague.com/Results/Zurich/re1880040.pdf. 25 March 2012.
- Web site: 4×100m Relay Results. sportresult.com. 3 September 2015. 3 September 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305085629/http://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/AT_PROD/Zurich2015_PDF_RE5340040.PDF?h=wsFz6+KxyrSxneNQ4EKmjrYUtj8=. dead.