Bislett Games

The Bislett Games is an annual track and field meeting at the Bislett Stadium in Oslo, Norway. Previously one of the IAAF Golden League events, it is now part of the Diamond League.

History

File:Bislett stadion3.jpg

The Bislett Games are held at Bislett Stadium. Photo: Kjetil Ree

The first international athletics meeting at Bislett was held in 1924. Until 1937 the competitions are known as "The American Meetings", similar to the international meetings in Zürich. Different organizers staged the meetings between 1947 and 1965 until the three athletics associations BUL, Vidar and Tjalve formed the Bislett Alliance. At this year Arne Haukvik founded the Bislett Games. He was a former politician and director of the meeting, who used to invite the athletes, sponsors and the press to his home for his traditional "strawberry party" the day before the event each year. He died of cancer in 2002 at age 76. The tradition however is continued.

Bislett Stadium was used for speed skating events at the Olympics, but nowadays it is better known for its Bislett Games athletics meeting. Bislett Games attract the best track and field athletes from all over the world, and 65 world records have been set on its forgiving, brick-coloured track so far. Due to the building of the new Bislett Stadium in Oslo, which started in April 2004, the 2004 edition of the traditional athletics meeting was staged on Fana stadion in Bergen under the name Bergen Bislett Games.

In 2009, a severe storm delayed proceedings and even caused damage to the track-side clock display. Sanya Richards recorded the fastest women's 400 metres time since 2006 while the Dream Mile brought a number of records with winner Deresse Mekonnen improving upon his Ethiopian record, Kenyan William Biwott Tanui setting a world junior record and third-placed Augustine Choge beating his personal best. Former javelin winners Andreas Thorkildsen and Tero Pitkämäki continued their five-year shared dominance of the Bislett Games, with Pitkämäki taking the victory this time.<ref>Turner, Chris (3 July 2009). Richards improves season’s lead in style; World Junior Mile record in Oslo – REPORT – ÅF Golden League. IAAF.</ref>

Alternative events

During 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Bislett Games from taking place, instead an event called Impossible Games was held.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021 there were still restrictions which caused the main event to be postponed to July 1.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A restricted event called Night of Highlights was additionally held on June 4, 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Editions

During some of the earliest editions, there were two meetings held per year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bislett Games editions

Template:Abbr	Meeting	Series	Date	Template:Abbr
Template:Ord	1965 Bislett Games		14 Jul 1965	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1966 Bislett Games		1966
Template:Ord	1967 Bislett Games		1967
Template:Ord	1968 Bislett Games		1968
Template:Ord	1969 Bislett Games		1969
Template:Ord	1970 Bislett Games		1970
Template:Ord	1971 Bislett Games		1971
Template:Ord	1972 Bislett Games		3-4 Aug 1972	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1973 Bislett Games		24 Jul 1973	<ref name="GDR-DQ">Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1974 Bislett Games		30–31 Jul 1974	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1975 Bislett Games		3 Jul 1975	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1976 Bislett Games		30 Jun 1976	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1977 Bislett Games		28 Jun 1977	<ref name="GDR-DQ"/>
Template:Ord	1978 Bislett Games		27 Jun 1978	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1979 Bislett Games		5 Jul, 17 Jul 1979	<ref name=r>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1980 Bislett Games		1 Jul 1980	<ref name=wr>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1981 Bislett Games		26 Jun 1981Template:Efn	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1982 Bislett Games		26 Jun 1982	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1983 Bislett Games		22–23 Aug 1983	<ref name=r /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1984 Bislett Games		28 Jun 1984	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1985 Bislett Games	1985 IAAF Grand Prix	16 Jul, 27 Jul 1985	<ref name=r /><ref name=wr />
Template:Ord	1986 Bislett Games	1986 IAAF Grand Prix	5 Jul 1986	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1987 Bislett Games	1987 IAAF Grand Prix	4 Jul 1987	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1988 Bislett Games	1988 IAAF Grand Prix	2 Jul 1988	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1989 Bislett Games	1989 IAAF Grand Prix	1 Jul 1989	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Ord	1990 Bislett Games	1990 IAAF Grand Prix	14 Jul 1990	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1991 Bislett Games	1991 IAAF Grand Prix	6 Jul 1991	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1992 Bislett Games	1992 IAAF Grand Prix	4 Jul 1992	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1993 Bislett Games	1993 IAAF Grand Prix	10 Jul 1993	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1994 Bislett Games	1994 IAAF Grand Prix	22 Jul 1994	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1995 Bislett Games	1995 IAAF Grand Prix	21 Jul 1995	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1996 Bislett Games	1996 IAAF Grand Prix	5 Jul 1996	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1997 Bislett Games	1997 IAAF Grand Prix	4 Jul 1997	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1998 Bislett Games	1998 IAAF Golden League	9 Jul 1998	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	1999 Bislett Games	1999 IAAF Golden League	30 Jun 1999	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2000 Bislett Games	2000 IAAF Golden League	28 Jul 2000	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2001 Bislett Games	2001 IAAF Golden League	13 Jul 2001	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2002 Bislett Games	2002 IAAF Golden League	28 Jun 2002	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2003 Bislett Games	2003 IAAF Golden League	27 Jun 2003	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2004 Bislett Games	2004 IAAF Golden League	11 Jun 2004	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2005 Bislett Games	2005 IAAF Golden League	29 Jul 2005	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2006 Bislett Games	2006 IAAF Golden League	2 Jun 2006	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2007 Bislett Games	2007 IAAF Golden League	15 Jun 2007	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2008 Bislett Games	2008 IAAF Golden League	6 Jun 2008	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2009 Bislett Games	2009 IAAF Golden League	3 Jul 2009	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2010 Bislett Games	2010 Diamond League	4 Jun 2010	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2011 Bislett Games	2011 Diamond League	9 Jun 2011	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2012 Bislett Games	2012 Diamond League	7 Jun 2012	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2013 Bislett Games	2013 Diamond League	13 Jun 2013	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2014 Bislett Games	2014 Diamond League	11 Jun 2014	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2015 Bislett Games	2015 Diamond League	11 Jun 2015	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2016 Bislett Games	2016 Diamond League	9 Jun 2016	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2017 Bislett Games	2017 Diamond League	15 Jun 2017	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2018 Bislett Games	2018 Diamond League	7 Jun 2018	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2019 Bislett Games	2019 Diamond League	13 Jun 2019	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	2020 Impossible Games	2020 Diamond League	11 Jun 2020	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2021 Bislett Games	2021 Diamond League	1 Jul 2021	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2022 Bislett Games	2022 Diamond League	16 Jun 2022	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2023 Bislett Games	2023 Diamond League	15 Jun 2023	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2024 Bislett Games	2024 Diamond League	30 May 2024	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Ord	2025 Bislett Games	2025 Diamond League	12 June 2025	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

World records

Over the course of its history, numerous world records have been set at the Games and former athletics meetings at Bislett stadium. In 1985 three new records were set at the same evening.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Bislett Games

World records set at the Bislett Games

Year	Event	Record	Athlete	Nationality
1965	Template:Sort	27:39.4 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1974	Template:Sort	2:13.9 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1975	Template:Sort	8:46.6 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
	Template:Sort	8:10.4 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1976	Template:Sort	8:45.4 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1979	Template:Sort	1:42.33	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1980	Template:Sort	3:48.8 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1981	Template:Sort	2:12.18	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1982	Template:Sort	13:00.41	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1984	Template:Sort	14:58.89	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1985	Template:Sort	30:59.42	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
	Template:Sort	13:00.40	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
	Template:Sort	3:46.32	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1986	Template:Sort	30:13.74	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1993	Template:Sort	26:58.38	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1994	Template:Sort	26:52.23	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
	Template:Sort	2:04:55	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1997	Template:Sort	26:31.32	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
2000	Javelin throw	69.48 m	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
2004	Template:Sort	14:24.68	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
	Template:Sort	14:30.88 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
2007	Template:Sort	14:16.63	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
2008	Template:Sort	14:11.15	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
	Template:Sort	1:42.69 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
2021	Template:Sort	46.70	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
2023	Template:Sort	4:17.13 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu

Differently named meetings

World records set at differently named meetings

Year	Event	Record	Athlete	Nationality
1952	Hammer throw	61.25 m	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1953	Hammer throw	62.36 m	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1955	Template:Sort	3:40.8 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Sortname Gunnar Nielsen	Template:Flagu Template:Flagu
	Template:Sort	8:45.4 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1964	Javelin throw	87.12 m & 91.72 m	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu

American meetings

World records set at the American meetings

Year	Event	Record	Athlete	Nationality
1924	Template:Sort	63.8 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1925	Pole vault	4.23 m	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1934	Template:Sort	14.2 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
	Shot put	17.40 m	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
	Discus throw	52.42 m	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1935	Template:Sort	14.2 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu
1936	Template:Sort	13.7 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagu

Meeting records

Men

Men's meeting records of the Bislett Games [1]

Event	Record	Athlete	Nationality	Date	Meet	Template:Abbr
100 m	9.79 Template:Wind	Usain Bolt	Template:Flagu	7 June 2012	2012	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
200 m	19.77 Template:Wind	Erriyon Knighton	Template:Flagu	15 June 2023	2023	<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
400 m	43.86	Michael Johnson	Template:Flagu	21 July 1995	1995
800 m	1:42.04	David Rudisha	Template:Flagu	4 June 2010	2010
1000 m	2:12.18	Sebastian Coe	Template:Flagu	11 July 1981	1981
1500 m	3:27.95	Jakob Ingebrigtsen	Template:Flagu	15 June 2023	2023	<ref name=":0" />
Mile	3:44.90	Hicham El Guerrouj	Template:Flagu	4 July 1997	1997
2000 m	4:50.01	Jakob Ingebrigtsen	Template:Flagu	11 June 2020	2020	<ref name="Thomas Byrne">Template:Cite news</ref>
3000 m	7:26.25	Yomif Kejelcha	Template:Flagu	1 July 2021	2021	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Two miles	8:15.2 Template:AthAbbr	Rod Dixon	Template:Flagu	17 July 1979	1979
5000 m	12:36.73	Hagos Gebrhiwet	Template:Flagu	30 May 2024	2024	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
6 miles	26:47.0 Template:AthAbbr	Ron Clarke	Template:Flagu	14 July 1965	1965
10,000 m	26:31.32	Haile Gebrselassie	Template:Flagu	4 July 1997	1997
20,000 m	57:55.0Template:AthAbbr Template:AthAbbr	Sondre Nordstad Moen	Template:Flagu	11 June 2020	2020	<ref name="Thomas Byrne"/>
25,000 m (track)	1:12:46.5 Template:AthAbbr	Sondre Nordstad Moen	Template:Flagu	11 June 2020	2020	<ref name="Thomas Byrne"/>
One hour	20,703 m	Sondre Nordstad Moen	Template:Flagu	11 June 2020	2020	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
110 m hurdles	13.00 Template:Wind	Ladji Doucouré	Template:Flagu	29 July 2005	2005
300 m hurdles	32.67 Template:AthAbbr, DLR	Karsten Warholm	Template:Flagu	12 June 2025	2025	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
400 m hurdles	46.52	Karsten Warholm	Template:Flagu	15 June 2023	2023	<ref name=":0" />
2000 m steeplechase	5:20.00	Krzysztof Wesołowski	Template:Flagu	28 June 1984	1984
3000 m steeplechase	8:01.83	Paul Kipsiele Koech	Template:Flagu	9 June 2011	2011	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
High jump	2.38 m	Mutaz Essa Barshim	Template:Flagu	15 June 2017	2017	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Pole vault	6.15 m	Armand Duplantis	Template:Flagu	12 June 2025	2025	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Long jump	8.53 m Template:Wind	Irving Saladino	Template:Flagu	2 June 2006	2006	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Triple jump	18.01 m Template:Wind	Jonathan Edwards	Template:Flagu	9 July 1998	1998
Shot put	22.29 m	Tomas Walsh	Template:Flagu	7 June 2018	2018	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Discus throw	70.91 m	Mykolas Alekna	Template:Flagu	30 May 2024	2024	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Hammer throw	81.92 m DLR	Wojciech Nowicki	Template:Flagu	15 June 2023	2023	<ref name=":0" />
Javelin throw	94.22 m (old design)	Michael Wessing	Template:Flagu	3 August 1978	1978
	92.60 m (current design)	Raymond Hecht	Template:Flagu	21 July 1995	1995
5000 m walk	20:27.0Template:AthAbbr Template:AthAbbr	Erling Andersen	Template:Flagu	3 August 1979	1979
10,000 m walk	40:50.0 Template:AthAbbr	Erling Andersen	Template:Flagu	3 August 1979	1979
20,000 m walk	1:27:56.8 Template:AthAbbr	Erling Andersen	Template:Flagu	23 August 1981	1981
30,000 m walk	2:35:45.6 Template:AthAbbr	Tore Brustad	Template:Flagu	20 July 1970	1970
50,000 m walk	4:42:10.0 Template:AthAbbr	Per Ola Sverre	Template:Flagu	9 August 1974	1974
4 × 100 m relay	40.31	Elvis Afrifa Taymir Burnet Solomon Bockarie Raphael Bouju	Template:Flagu	16 June 2022	2022	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
4 × 1500 m relay	14:40.4 Template:AthAbbr	Tony Polhill 3:42.9 John Walker 3:40.4 Rod Dixon 3:41.2 Dick Quax 3:35.9	Template:Flagu	22 August 1973	1973

Women

Women's meeting records of the Bislett Games [2]

Event	Record	Athlete	Nationality	Date	Meet	Template:Abbr
100 m	10.75 Template:Wind	Marie-Josée Ta Lou	Template:Flagu	15 June 2023	2023	<ref name=":0" />
200 m	21.93 Template:Wind	Dafne Schippers	Template:Flagu	9 June 2016	2016	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
400 m	49.23	Taťána Kocembová	Template:Flagu	23 August 1983	1983
600 m	1:29.06	Hedda Hynne	Template:Flagu	11 June 2020	2020	<ref name="Thomas Byrne"/>
800 m	1:55.04	Jarmila Kratochvílová	Template:Flagu	23 August 1983	1983
1500 m	3:57.40	Suzy Favor-Hamilton	Template:Flagu	28 July 2000	2000
Mile	4:17.13	Birke Haylom	Template:Flagu	15 June 2023	2023	<ref name=":0" />
3000 m	8:24.20	Georgia Griffith	Template:Flagu	30 May 2024	2024	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
5000 m	14:11.15	Tirunesh Dibaba	Template:Flagu	6 June 2008	2008
10,000 m	30:13.74	Ingrid Kristiansen	Template:Flagu	5 July 1986	1986
100 m hurdles	12.49 Template:Wind	Sally Pearson	Template:Flagu	7 June 2012	2012	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
200 m hurdles	26.11 Template:Wind	Line Kloster	Template:Flagu	11 June 2020	2020	<ref name="Thomas Byrne"/>
300 m hurdles	39.42	Sara Petersen	Template:Flagu	11 June 2020	2020	<ref name="Thomas Byrne"/>
400 m hurdles	52.30	Femke Bol	Template:Flagu	15 June 2023	2023	<ref name=":0" />
3000 m steeplechase	9:02.60	Faith Cherotich	Template:Flagu	12 June 2025	2025	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
High jump	2.05 m	Stefka Kostadinova	Template:Flagu	4 July 1987	1987
Pole vault	4.85 m	Yelena Isinbayeva	Template:Flagu	15 June 2007	2007
Long jump	7.29 m Template:Wind	Heike Drechsler	Template:Flagu	22 July 1994	1994
Triple jump	15.11 m Template:Wind	Yamilé Aldama	Template:Flagu	27 June 2003	2003
Shot put	20.26 m	Valerie Adams	Template:Flagu	9 June 2011	2011	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Discus throw	69.78 m	Tsvetanka Khristova	Template:Flagu	5 July 1986	1986
Javelin throw	76.34 m (old design)	Fatima Whitbread	Template:Flagu	4 July 1987	1987
	69.48 m (current design)	Trine Hattestad	Template:Flagu	28 July 2000	2000
3000 m walk	13:45.7 Template:AthAbbr	Frøydis Hilsen	Template:Flagu	23 August 1981	1981
5000 m walk	22:59.6 Template:AthAbbr	Anita Blomberg	Template:Flagu	17 June 1988	1988
4 × 100 m relay	43.69	Jamile Samuel Tasa Jiya Template:Ill Naomi Sedney	Template:Flagu	16 June 2022	2022	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
4 × 400 m relay	3:28.38 DLR	Carys McAulay Ama Pipi Lina Nielsen Nicole Kendall	Template:Flagu	15 June 2023	2023	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Dream Mile

External links

• Diamond League – Oslo Official Web Site