The centenary of the date on which the IAAF was founded in Stockholm – July 17, 1912 – falls just two days after the end of the IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona, and to mark the occasion a temporary IAAF centenary historic exhibition composed of audio-visual displays and physical exhibits will be staged during two periods of 2012 in the Museu Olímpic i de l'Esport Joan Antoni Samaranch, the city's Olympic and Sports Museum.

During the weekend of November 24 and 25, 2012, Barcelona will also host a special edition of the annual International Athletics Foundation Gala, which usually takes place in Monaco.

The IAAF centenary gala show and dinner will be the focus of a weekend of activities in the Catalan capital, following an IAAF Council meeting, demonstration athletics events and the presentation of the 2012 Athletes of the Year Awards.

An IAAF centenary book, which is being edited by a team including historian and statisticians like Mel Watman, Roberto Quercetani and Alain Billouin, was commissioned in the autumn of 2010.

This publication will chronicle the political and administrative history of the IAAF as well as the themes and highlights of international competition since 1912.

Work is also underway on a series of television documentaries, highlighting the legendary athletes, key themes and lasting achievements of athletics and the IAAF over the past century.

In addition, the IAAF will use other opportunities to highlight its centenary throughout the year, particularly at the Games of the XXX Olympiad, London 2012, and the IAAF dinner, which traditionally precedes the athletics competition, while all IAAF spaces in its official hotel and at the Olympic Stadium in London will be branded accordingly.

The IAAF has also created a special T-shirt for the 2012 edition of the IAAF World Athletics Day (WAD), to ensure that this popular promotional event will also boost awareness of the centenary.

A selected WAD champion from each area will be invited to attend the gala celebrations in Barcelona.

The IAAF is also creating an IAAF centenary commemorative medal and diploma, which will be sent to all IAAF member federations, allowing them to select and honour worthy recipients who have made an outstanding contribution to the sport.

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