The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is the international governing body for the sport of athletics (known in the US as "track and field"). It was founded in 1912 at its first Congress in Stockholm, Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletics federations as the International Amateur Athletics Federation. Included in its charge are the standardization of timekeeping methods and world records. The IAAF also organizes many major athletics competitions worldwide, including the IAAF World Championships in Athletics.
Beginning in 1982, the IAAF has passed several amendments to its rules allowing athletes to receive compensation for participation in international athletics competitions. However, the IAAF retained the word "amateur" in its name until its 2001 Congress at which the IAAF's title was changed to its current form.
The IAAF's current president is Lamine Diack of Senegal. He became Acting President shortly after the death of the previous president, Primo Nebiolo of Italy, in November 1999. Diack was elected IAAF President at the IAAF's 2001 Congress. The IAAF has been headquartered in Monaco since October 1993.