IAAF World Championships in Athletics the desire of many IAAF members to have their own World Championships began to grow. In 1976 at the IAAF Council Meeting in Puerto Rico an Athletics World Championships separate from the Olympic Games was approved. Following bids from both Stuttgart, West Germany and Helsinki, Finland, the IAAF Council awarded the inaugural competition to Helsinki, to take place in 1983 and be held in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium (where the 1952 Summer Olympics had been held). Two IAAF world championship events preceded the inaugural edition of the World Championships in Athletics in 1983. The 1976 World Championships had just one
Steeplechase at the World Championships in Athletics Steeplechase at the World Championships in Athletics The 3000 metres steeplechase has been held as an event at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in the men's division since 1983 and in the women's division since 2005. It can be noted for a series of lengthy winning streaks in the men's division, where Kenyan born athletes have won every championship since 1991. Moses Kiptanui won three in a row, 1987-1995, Saif Saaeed Shaheen, born Steven Cherono, won two in 2003-5. The longest winning streak in any event in the World Championships, is 5 in a row by Ezekiel Kemboi, 2009-15.