The Match Europe v USA

The event programme consisted of 37 events, and includes six individual track running events, three obstacle events, four jumping events, four throwing events, and a sprint relay event for each sex. There is also a 1600 metres mixed-sex sprint medley relay with four athletes running 200, 200, 400 and 800 metres, similar to a mixed 4 × 400 metres relay which will be introduced at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[6]

Track events

Running

• 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres, 800 metres, 1500 metres, 3000 metres

Obstacle events

• 100 metres hurdles (women only), 110 metres hurdles (men only), 400 metres hurdles, 3000 metres steeplechase

Relay events

• 4 × 100 metres relay, 1600 metres sprint medley relay (mixed)

Field events

Jumping events

• Pole vault, high jump, long jump, triple jump

Throwing events

• Shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, hammer throw

Special match rules applied to the field events. For the six Horizontal field events (all four throwing events, the long and triple jumps), there were three initial attempts in each event. Following this, the top six athletes from these trials advanced to the final three rounds. At each subsequent round, the lowest placing athlete, based on all attempts thus far in the competition, was eliminated. In the vertical jumps (high jump and pole vault) each competitor was limited to three attempts at any specific height and eight attempts in total.

Each team was allowed to field 4 athletes in each individual event, and two teams of four in each relay. The winner of each individual event and each relay scored 9 points, the second 7 points, the third score 6, and so on. The highest score either team could achieve in a single event was therefore 27 points, and the lowest (barring disqualification, failure to finish or record a mark) 10 (or in relays, 16 and 11 respectively).

Across the competition, a theoretical high score of 966 points was available, and a theoretical low score, ignoring disqualifications, DNFs and no marks, of 373. However, the match would be won once either team achieves over half of all available points - the winning post for the Match before it commenced was therefore 670 points. Following withdrawals and 'no marks' on day one of the Match, the winning post was recalculated as 662 points.[7] Europe secured victory when they reached a 664½–560½ lead. The final result was 724½–601½.

3½ points was awarded for dead heat for 5th place in 400m hurdles men.[8]

The organiser of the event will award prize money to the competitors. For relay events, the winning team will receive €6,000, the runners-up €4,000, and the third-placers €2,000. The prize money structure for individual events is as follows:

1. €7,000
2. €5,000
3. €4,000
4. €3,000
5. €2,000
6. €1,000
7. €500
8. €500

Teams		100 m	200 m	400 m	800 m	1500 m	3000 m	3000m s	1/110m h	400 m h	4 x 100 m	1600m relay	HJ	LJ	TJ	PV	SP	DT	HT	JT	Total Score
Team Europe	M	14	20	15	23	19	16	21	24	16½	12	14	25	20	14	27	19	25	25	26	724½ PTS
	W	17	19	16	24	14	11	22	20	26	11		25	21	20	24	20	21	23	21
Team USA	M	22	17	22	14	18	21	21	13	20½	15	13	12	17	22	7	18	11	12	11	601½ PTS
	W	20	18	21	13	23	25	15	17	11	16		12	15	17	9	17	16	13	16
TEAM EUROPE WINS THE MATCH 724½ – 601½

Points from each placement[9]

		1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	Total points
Points for placement		9	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
Team Europe	Events	17	26	21	23	16	19	12	4	724½
	Points	153	182	126	115	63½	57	24	4
Team USA	Events	20	11	16	14	19	14	20	21	601½
	Points	180	77	96	70	75½	42	40	21

• 17 events were won by Team Europe; Team USA won 20.
• Team Europe achieved 64 podium positions; Team USA achieved 47.