ÅF Golden League logo (© IAAF.org)
MonteCarloThe six meeting quest to claim the $1 Million Jackpot of the ÅF Golden League reaches its penultimate fixture in Zürich, Switzerland on Friday 29 August, and only two athletes remain in the hunt for the perfect series of six victories which is required to at least share the prize.
The world famous Weltklasse Zürich, is the first of two remaining ÅF Golden League events which follow the conclusion of the athletics events of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, Beijing 2008 on Sunday 24 August. The other four ÅF Golden League meetings in Berlin, Oslo, Rome and Paris were held in the first two months of the main outdoor season.
The remaining TWO ÅF Golden League Jackpot Contenders are women who experienced contrasting fortunes in Beijing. Pamelo Jelimo took the world of 800m running apart for the umpteenth time this year, while World High Jump champion Blanka Vlasic had to settle for silver in a high grade final in China in which she jumped 2.05m:
800m - Pamela Jelimo, 18, (KEN): 1:54.99 Area Record / World Junior record in Berlin; 1:55.41 in Oslo; 1:55.69 in Rome; 1:54.97 Area Record / World Junior record in Paris; 1:54.87 gold medal, Area Record / World Junior record in Beijing; African champion, the sensational find of the year.
High Jump - Blanka Vlasic, 24, (CRO): 2:03m in Berlin; 2.04m in Oslo; 2.00m in Rome; 2.01m in Paris; 2.05m silver medal in Beijing; World champion indoors and out.
Summaries of all ÅF Golden League meetings so far held in 2008:
>>Wariner and Jepkosgei’s Jackpot hopes foiled; Upsets all the way in Berlin - ÅF Golden League
>>Dibaba’s World record and Kaki’s World Junior mark leaves Oslo in awe - ÅF Golden League
>>Jelimo 1:54.97; Robles 12.88; Wariner 43.86 in Paris - ÅF Golden League, Paris
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Athletics’ biggest yearly payday - ÅF Golden League Jackpot
The prize - $1 Million
The requirement - ‘6 out of 6’
In 2008, there are TEN ÅF Golden League event disciplines designated to the Jackpot, six events for men and four for women, as follows:
Men: 100m, 400m, 1500m, 400m Hurdles, Long Jump, Javelin Throw
Women: 200m, 800m, 100m Hurdles, High Jump
Athletes are required to win at all six meetings to acquire at least a share of athletics’ biggest yearly payday.
The possibility of a secondary prize also exists as it did in 2007:
To sustain the active participation in the Jackpot of as many athletes as possible through to the culmination of the series, should NO athlete manage to attain six wins and claim the $1 Million, then anyone with five victories will share half the original prize - $500,000.
NOTE. this secondary prize is only on offer should nobody win his or her event at all six meetings.
Cities and Dates for 2008 - ÅF Golden League
Berlin, GER – Sunday 1 June
Oslo, NOR – Friday 6 June
Rome, ITA – Friday 11 July
Paris, FRA – Friday 18 July
Zürich, SUI – Friday 29 August
Brussels, BEL – Friday 5 September
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