World Athletics Label Road Races

{{Short description|Collection of road running races deemed "leading around the world" by World Athletics}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}

{{Infobox sports league

| sport = Road running

| title =

| logo = WA labels logos 2023.png

| caption = Logos of World Athletics Road Races Label in 2023

| founded = 2008

| folded =

| continent = Global

| website = https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races|

}}

World Athletics Label Road Races are races that World Athletics (until 2019: IAAF) designates as the "leading road races around the world."{{cite web |url=https://iaafmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/competitioninfo/c2127e60-9aa4-40d9-bd90-43fd7db3d607.pdf |title=IAAF Road Race Labels: Regulations 2014 |publisher=International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) |access-date=4 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105050815/https://iaafmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/competitioninfo/c2127e60-9aa4-40d9-bd90-43fd7db3d607.pdf |archive-date=5 January 2014 |url-status=live }} The classification was first introduced for the 2008 running season, upon the suggestion of the IAAF Road Running Commission.{{cite web |url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/iaaf-awards-gold-and-silver-labels-for-road-r |title=IAAF awards Gold and Silver Labels for Road Races |publisher=IAAF |date=20 December 2007 |access-date=4 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105052528/http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/iaaf-awards-gold-and-silver-labels-for-road-r |archive-date=5 November 2013 |url-status=live }} The races are split into three categories: marathons, half marathons and other. Within the "other" category are traditional road race distances, over which World Athletics world records can be set, along with some "Classical races", which span unusual distances. The Labels are considered a prestigious award by race organisers,{{cite web |url=https://www.edinburgh-marathon.com/?iaaf-bronze |title=EMF Awarded IAAF Bronze |publisher=Edinburgh Marathon Festival |access-date=4 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105054740/https://www.edinburgh-marathon.com/?iaaf-bronze |archive-date=5 January 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/23/stories/2009102356131800.htm |title=Three Indian road races get IAAF 'Gold Label' |work=The Hindu |date=23 October 2009 |access-date=4 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129021020/http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/23/stories/2009102356131800.htm |archive-date=29 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.vienna-marathon.com/?url=news&newsDetail=1277&lang=en |title=Vienna City Marathon receives IAAF Road Race Gold Label |publisher=Vienna City Marathon |date=19 September 2011 |access-date=4 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105073131/http://www.vienna-marathon.com/?url=news&newsDetail=1277&lang=en |archive-date=5 January 2014 |url-status=live }} and include the seven World Marathon Majors. Platinium Label races have the strictest requirements, followed by Gold, then Elite, and general Label Races. All categories require what the World Athletics describes as an international elite field, that requires at least five nations for the highest labels to be represented by runners with times faster than the World Athletics's guidelines. Additionally, the race course must be closed to vehicular traffic, and measured to the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) standard, with full electronic timing used to generate the results.

In the first year, only Gold and Silver Labels were awarded, and 49 races were recognised.{{cite web |url=http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-label-road-races/calendar/2008 |title=Calendar: 2008 |publisher=IAAF |access-date=4 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809113521/http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-label-road-races/calendar/2008 |archive-date=9 August 2015 |url-status=live }} A third tier was introduced in 2010, entitled the Bronze Label,{{cite web |url=http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-label-road-races/calendar/2010 |title=Calendar: 2010 |publisher=IAAF |access-date=4 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924164431/http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-label-road-races/calendar/2010 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live }} and in 2015, 88 races were listed in total.{{cite web |url=http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-label-road-races/calendar/2015 |title=Calendar: 2014 |publisher=IAAF |access-date=4 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105103609/http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-label-road-races/calendar/2015 |archive-date=5 November 2014 |url-status=live }} Starting in the 2023 season, only four tiers are used: Platinum Label, Gold Label, Elite Label and Label.{{Cite web |title=World Athletics Label Road Races {{!}} World Athletics |url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/calendar-results?season=2023 |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=worldathletics.org}}

File:RoadRunning.jpg

In October 2018, the IAAF announced to introduced the Platinum Label for the 2020 season.[https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1070770/iaaf-release-new-regulations-and-launch-platinum-label-for-road-races IAAF release new regulations and launch Platinum Label for road races] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906153843/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1070770/iaaf-release-new-regulations-and-launch-platinum-label-for-road-races |date=6 September 2019 }} – Florence Almond, Inside the Games, 8 October 2018 For the 2021, the Platinum Label was renamed Elite Platinum Label, the Gold Label was renamed Elite Label, and the Silver and Bronze Labels were merged into Label Races. Then, in 2023, the Elite Platinum Label reverts to the Platinum Label and the Gold Label re-emerges, becoming an intermediate tier between the Elite and Platinum Labels.

The Labels are assessed and awarded each year. Race organisers have to apply to the World Athletics for recognition, and show that their race can meet a number of criteria. The criteria vary for the different levels;{{Cite web |title=Book of Rules {{!}} Official Documents |url=https://worldathletics.org/about-iaaf/documents/book-of-rules |access-date=2023-12-25 |website=worldathletics.org |language=en}} The race must be organised in a way that minimizes ecological damage to the surrounding areas. A specified number of doping tests must be carried out, and prize money for the participants should be equal, irrespective of gender or nationality, though additional rewards can be given to runners from the host nation.

In 2017, Japan had the most road race Label events, with 9, although the Czech Republic hosted the most Gold Label events, 7.{{cite web |url=https://www.iaaf.org/Competitions/iaaf-label-road-races/calendar/2017 |title=Calendar, Gold labels: 2017 |publisher=IAAF |access-date=20 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320230730/https://www.iaaf.org/Competitions/iaaf-label-road-races/calendar/2017 |archive-date=20 March 2018 |url-status=live }} 3 races on the African continent received Label status in 2015.