The events include the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Edmonton, Canada August 3-12, 2001; the IAAF Grand Prix Final, Melbourne, Australia, 2001; the IAAF Grand Prix Final, Paris, France, 2002; the IAAF World Indoor Championships, Birmingham, UK, 2003; the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Paris, France, 2003; and the IAAF Grand Prix Final, 2003.
The agreement also includes the one-day athletics meets that currently form the IAAF Golden League, namely Zurich, Brussels, Oslo, Berlin, Paris, Rome and Monaco.
``This is a break-through agreement for the sport of athletics and its worldwide governing body, the IAAF, giving this most important Olympic sport the great exposure it deserves. Both parties are entering this agreement in a true partnership mode,'' said Jean-Marie Weber, chairman of ISL Worldwide.
Broadcasting plans have yet to be finalised by ABC and ESPN but it is expected that ABC will be airing the IAAF World Championships in Athletics at weekends with ESPN showing highlight programming during the week
ABC and ESPN have bought the exclusive broadcasting rights in the US market for premier IAAF events in a three- year agreement with the IAAF and ISL Worldwide.
