Events 42 | ||
Host city Ta'if, Saudia Arabia and Damascus, Syria Date(s) 10–12 September 1997 and 25–27 June 1998 | ||
The 1997 Arab Athletics Championships was the tenth edition of the international athletics competition between Arab countries. The tournament occurred in two parts in two different years, with the sexes competing in different locations for the first and so far only time. A total of 42 athletics events were contested, 22 for men and 20 for women.
The scheduled 1997 championships was held from 10–12 September in Ta'if, Saudi Arabia and featured only men's events. Regional powers Morocco and Tunisia were absent from this meeting. The men's marathon and racewalking events were dropped from the programme, with the half marathon remaining as the only road event.
A corresponding women's tournament was belatedly staged between 25–27 June 1998 in Damascus, Syria. Only five nations participated in the women's events: Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine