World Athletics Label Road Races

World Athletics Label Road Races are races that World Athletics designates as the "leading road races around the world." The classification was first introduced for the 2008 running season, upon the suggestion of the IAAF Road Running Commission. The races are split into three categories: marathons, half marathons and other. Within the "other" category are traditional road race distances, over which World Athletics world records can be set, along with some "Classical races", which span unusual distances. The Labels are considered a prestigious award by race organisers, and include the seven World Marathon Majors. Platinium Label races have the strictest requirements, followed by Gold, then Elite, and general Label Races. All categories require what the World Athletics describes as an international elite field, that requires at least five nations for the highest labels to be represented by runners with times faster than the World Athletics's guidelines. Additionally, the race course must be closed to vehicular traffic, and measured to the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races standard, with full electronic timing used to generate the results.
In the first year, only Gold and Silver Labels were awarded, and 49 races were recognised. A third tier was introduced in 2010, entitled the Bronze Label, and in 2015, 88 races were listed in total. Starting in the 2023 season, only four tiers are used: Platinum Label, Gold Label, Elite Label and Label.
In October 2018, the IAAF announced to introduced the Platinum Label for the 2020 season. For the 2021, the Platinum Label was renamed Elite Platinum Label, the Gold Label was renamed Elite Label, and the Silver and Bronze Labels were merged into Label Races. Then, in 2023, the Elite Platinum Label reverts to the Platinum Label and the Gold Label re-emerges, becoming an intermediate tier between the Elite and Platinum Labels.
The Labels are assessed and awarded each year. Race organisers have to apply to the World Athletics for recognition, and show that their race can meet a number of criteria. The criteria vary for the different levels; The race must be organised in a way that minimizes ecological damage to the surrounding areas. A specified number of doping tests must be carried out, and prize money for the participants should be equal, irrespective of gender or nationality, though additional rewards can be given to runners from the host nation.
In 2017, Japan had the most road race Label events, with 9, although the Czech Republic hosted the most Gold Label events, 7. 3 races on the African continent received Label status in 2015.

Editions

	Year	Start date	End date	Races	Elite Platinum	Platinum	Gold	Elite	Label	Silver	Bronze	Marathons	Half marathons	10K	Other dist.
1	2008	5 January	7 December	49			12			37		32	8	6	3
2	2009	3 January	31 December	49			19			30		34	8	5	2
3	2010	2 January	31 December	57			24			24	9	35	10	9	3
4	2011	2 January	31 December	65			26			25	14	39	13	9	4
5	2012	7 January	31 December	71			35			21	15	44	14	10	4
6	2013	5 January	31 December	74			36			21	17	46	12	11	5
7	2014	2 January	31 December	80			38			24	18	50	16	10	4
8	2015	3 January	31 December	88			43			27	18	55	18	10	5
9	2016	2 January	31 December	88			44			17	27	59	19	8	2
10	2017	2 January	31 December	103			50			20	33	68	23	9	3
11	2018	7 January	31 December	114			56			26	32	75	26	9	4
12	2019	6 January	31 December	138			64			25	49	88	28	15	7
13	2020	5 January	31 December	48		5	23			7	13	31	11	5	1
14	2021	31 January	31 December	88	9			28	51			54	21	9	4
15	2022	9 January	31 December	162	12			67	83			82	41	21	11
16	2023	15 January	31 December	248		15	39	64	130			150	63	23	12
17	2024	7 January	31 December	303		16	45	65	177			160	88	36	19