About AIMS
The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) was firmly established in May 1982 with its first Congress in London. Informal discussions had been held over the previous two years amongst some of the world’s leading marathon race directors with a view to setting up such an association. Meetings were held in New York, Honolulu and other venues prior to the formal meeting in London.
AIMS was initially established with the idea of providing a forum for the exchange of ideas that would help to improve each attending director’s race. However, once it was decided to write Articles of Association it was found necessary to go beyond just the exchange of ideas and to set some basic rules to govern the association and membership.
The objectives of the Association are:
to foster and promote distance running throughout the world;
to work with the International Association of Athletic Federations on all matters relating to international road races, and;
to exchange information, knowledge and expertise among the members of the Association.
From those beginnings nearly forty years ago AIMS has made remarkable progress.
At the 5th World Congress of AIMS in 1989 in Melbourne, Australia, membership was extended beyond just marathons to all road races. Membership was further extended at the 16th World Congress of AIMS in March 2007 held in Xiamen, China to explicitly include races held off-road. Through a partnership with agencies of the Greek national government AIMS opened a permanent headquarters at the spiritual home of the Marathon in November 2011, within the Olympic Complex in Athens. From this date OPAP-VisitGreece has become the Patron of AIMS.
AIMS has firmly established itself as the major force behind the development and progress of distance running throughout the world. From an initial membership of 28 in 1982, it has grown to 469 members in 122 countries and territories, including most of the world's premier marathons and many other major road races.
AIMS has set firm standards of course measurement. IAAF has recognized and adopted the AIMS system as its standard. All AIMS members are required to have their courses so measured.
AIMS and IAAF recognize world road records, having jointly developed acceptable criteria for their recognition.
AIMS acknowledges and is grateful to all the organizations, institutions and sponsors who support and co-operate with the Association in its efforts to develop the sport of road running.
The official web: www.aims-worldrunning.org