AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Road Races) celebrates its 25th anniversary

AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Road Races) was founded in London in 1982, after the race directors of several major marathons had met in Honolulu in 1981. They had developed the idea of joining together to promote running. There have been marathon races since 1896 (Athens and Boston), but there had never been any cooperation or exchange between them. This international organisation was then founded in London to promote and support running worldwide.

Will Cloney (Boston Marathon) became the first president, Chris Brasher (London-Marathon) vice-president, and the legendary Fred Lebow (New York City Marathon) was a member of the first AIMS board. In 1982, shortly after AIMS was founded, Berlin and its marathon also became a member of AIMS.

Today, AIMS is an organisation of about 230 race organisations in over 80 nations, tendency rising. Many of the innovations within the sport of running and athletics have been initiated by this organisation, such as the correct measuring of race courses using the Jones counter, the Chip timekeeping method, and the IAAF’s official recognition of road race world records (10 km, half marathon, and marathon).

>Anniversary in Xiamen

The anniversary will be celebrated during the 16th AIMS World Congress from March 29-31, 2007 in XIAMEN, where they will also address the challenges for the future. The Xiamen Marathon will take place on Saturday, March 31.

The Japanese president of AIMS, Hiroaki Chosa, who is also a long-time member of IAAF, a member of the newly founded IAAF Road Race Commission, and of the organising committee of the World Championships in Osaka, is up for re-election.
Six German races, seven Swiss races and one Austrian race are members of AIMS. The largest numbers of AIMS members come from the USA (22) and from Japan (14).

Wolfram Bleul (Frankfurt) and Peter Christ (Berlin) were previously on the AIMS Board of Directors, and Horst Milde (Berlin) is still represented on the board today.

A 68-page AIMS anniversary brochure provides information on the historical development of AIMS and includes numerous photos from races around the world. It also includes a retrospective by Allan Steinfeld (News York City Marathon) on the development of course measuring, as well as unique documentation of the results of all AIMS races since 1982, compiled by Dr. David Martin/USA, the AIMS statistician.
A total of 2,500 results are included in this unusual documentation.

AIMS Marathon Museum of Running

In XIAMEN, the Berlin Sports Museum (AIMS Marathon Museum of Running) will be presenting an exceptional exhibition on the history of AIMS and running to the member races, the media, and the visitors.

AIMS recently has taken on the promotion of running for children and youth around the world—and will be increasing its activity in this area in the future. Children’s races are currently being supported financially by the association in Asia and Africa. In the future, together with the IAAF, AIMS will continue to demonstrate leadership in the promotion and development of running worldwide.

https://www.aims-association.org/
AIMS