The first indoor world track and field championship event was held in Paris in 1985 and was billed as “The World Indoor Games.” The initial IAAF-sanctioned World Indoor Championships was held two years later, in Indianapolis. The event was held every other year through 2003. It was then moved to even-numbered years, beginning in 2004, to avoid coinciding with the World Outdoor Championships. Lile the Olympics and the World Outdoor Championships, each nation selects its own team, using its own criteria. However, each athlete must meet or exceed an international qualifying standard for his or her sport to be eligible to compete.
Events:
From the start - whether you count 1985 or 1987 as the first year - each World Indoor Championship has included these events: races of 60, 400, 800, 1,500 and 3,000 meters; 60-meter hurdles; shot put; long jump and high jump. Every men's competition has included the triple jump and pole vault. Those events didn't enter women's competition until 1991 and 1997, respectively. There was a men's 5,000-meter walk and a women's 3,000-meter walk from 1985-93. The men's and women's 4 x 400 relay was added in 1991. Men's heptathlon and women's pentathlon were added in 1999. The 200-meter race was dropped after 2004.
Participation:
There were 319 athletes from 69 countries at the 1985 World Indoor Games in Paris, held on Jan. 18-19, 1985. Subsequent competitions have all been held in March. The 1987 World Indoor Championships drew 419 athletes from 85 nations. By 2008 the field was represented by athletes from 147 countries.
