At the IAAF World Relays in Yokohama (JPN), the President of the IAAF, Sebastian Coe, announced 11 new locations for the IAAF World Athletics Heritage Plaque. Weltklasse Zürich also received the award. The Zurich meeting, founded in 1928 and originally known as the "Nurmi" meeting and more recently dubbed the ‘Olympics in one day’, was honoured for its contribution to the world history of athletics.
Christoph Joho and Andreas Hediger, the two co-meeting directors of Weltklasse Zürich, are very pleased: "A great honour for Zürich. It’s great that the decades of passionate commitment of hundreds of people who make Weltklasse Zürich possible year after year has been honoured".
The President of the IAAF, Sebastian Coe, added at the announcement in Yokohama: "After the sad death of Andreas Brügger, the timing of this award could not be more appropriate to pay tribute to his exceptional legacy".
Weltklasse Zürich – a quality label, a promise
Weltklasse Zürich has added new chapters to the athletics history books for 90 years. Its very first edition in 1928 already featured an athletics superstar: nine-time Olympic champion Paavo Nurmi. Countless stars have been able to shine at Letzigrund Stadium ever since. So far, 25 new world records have been set, including some very prestigious ones, such as the very first 10.0 result in the 100m clocked by Armin Hary (GER) in 1960. The most recent world record dates back to 2009, when Russia’s pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva cleared 5.06m.
Weltklasse Zürich will take place this year on 29 August.
IAAF World Athletics Heritage Plaque
The Plaque is a location-based recognition which highlights, celebrates and links together iconic and historic athletics careers, cities, competitions, culture, landmarks, performances and venues around the world.
A uniquely designed plaque will be permanently and publicly displayed at a location closely associated with each recipient. The Plaque is awarded for an outstanding contribution to the worldwide history and development of the sport of track & field and of out of stadia athletics. Where Weltklasse Zürich Plaque will be installed has not yet been determined.
