IAAF Golden Events

Aside from the inaugural event in Tokyo, the contests were held in Europe and were attached to independent track and field meetings.

[2] All twelve events were for men, reflecting their position as the most prominent sex during that period.

[3][4] British athletes were particularly successful in the series and won eight of the twelve events.

Field events were in a minority, with one javelin throw and one pole vault being their only appearance.

[9] The launch of the IAAF Grand Prix in 1985 formalised the major track and field circuit as a professional series of point-scoring events.