IAA — Israeli Athletics Association (איגוד האתלטיקה בישראל)

What is the IAA?

The Israeli Athletics Association (איגוד האתלטיקה בישראל) is the national body for athletics in Israel. It describes itself as the body recognised by the State of Israel for concentrating and managing athletics in the country and, as a result, “the Israeli body representing the state toward the international athletics bodies” (translated from the Hebrew).^[4] Its stated vision is that athletics in Israel will be the foundation for achieving the goals of all sports in the country.^[4]

What does the IAA govern or do?

The association’s stated objectives include increasing Israel’s competitive success internationally and growing the number of athletes taking part across age categories.^[4] Its site keeps the Israeli records and the lists of national champions, separated by gender, and is organised by competition type: stadium events, road races and cross-country races.^[3] It publishes its statutes, financial reports and the minutes of its board meetings in a transparency section.^[5]

When was the IAA founded and where is it based?

By the association’s own account, the body began as the Athletics Committee and has been called the Israeli Athletics Association from 1980 onwards. When the Israeli Sports Federation was dissolved at the end of 1995, the association became an independent registered association.^[4] Its office is at Shitrit Street 10, Tel Aviv, the address given on its site.^[3]

How is the IAA recognised?

World Athletics. The Athletics Integrity Unit lists the Israeli Athletic Association (code ISR) in its List of Categorised National Federations as of 2026, drawn up under Rule 15 of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, placing it in category B.^[1][2]

Area association. The same list assigns the federation to European Athletics (EA). The association itself names World Athletics and European Athletics among the international bodies with which it works.^[1][4]

What does the IAA organise?

The association states that it organises about 80 athletics competitions each year.^[4] Its site carries the Israeli national championships in stadium athletics, road running and cross-country, and the athletics events of the Maccabiah, in open and junior divisions.^[3]

Who are its members?

Athletics clubs make up the association’s base: its site keeps a section for its clubs (אגודות), and its stated objectives include strengthening the athletics clubs.^[4][5] The association is governed by a board, for which its site keeps a board members section.^[4]