| International Marching League |
| May Walking Bring Us Together |
If you love to go a
wandering around the world, the International Marching League was formed
with you in mind. The IML was founded in 1987 as an international nonprofit organization
to promote good health and encourage friendship between people all over the world. Their
slogan is "Nos jungat ambulare" or "May walking bring us
together." Walkers participate in the 14 sanctioned events, getting stamps in
their International Walker passbooks and earning medals and designations as International
Master Walker and European Walker.
IML events are
not races, but neither are they cakewalks. Each event is held over two or more days, with
the walkers required to complete 20 kilometers or more each day to earn the event credit
and award. The granddaddy of these events is the Nijmegen Vierdaagse (4-day) Walk in the
Netherlands. This will be its 81st year, and it was one of the charter members of the IML.
At Nijmegen, the regulation distance for men under 50 is 50K a day, and for women under 50
it is 40K per day - more than a marathon distance for the men. It attracts 35,000
participants each year.
The IML works
with local event committees to judge whether an event meets the standards for admission as
a yearly IML event. Each country is allowed one IML event per year, although the USA is
requesting certification of two events - one on each coast. The east coast event in
Winston-Salem, North Carolina was approved in 1996 to become an IML-sanctioned event this
October. (Note: this event was canceled in November, 1997 after its second year). On the
west coast, the Vancouver Discovery Walk in
Vancouver, Washington was approved in 1997 and is held yearly in April.
The walks are
not competitive - everybody is a winner and can earn the certificate and medal by
completing the distance. Each event has its own entry fee, but prices are modest compared
to many racing events. As a result, many groups form teams to come and participate. At
Nijmegen there are many military units which march together in full gear and backpacks, a
true test of endurance. The start/finish areas provide camaraderie of meeting other
international walkers, food for sale, entertainment, and a place to rest and repair the
blisters.
The
International Walker passbooks are available at the events for a modest price - $3 - $4 US
equivalent. The walker buys an International Walker Passport at his/her first IML member
walk (such as the Winston-Salem Two Day Walk in October, 1997). On completion of the walk,
a special stamp for that particular walk is placed in the passbook. After obtaining stamps
from three different IML events - each in a different country - the walker may purchase
the International Walker Medal.
As the walker
completes groups of three events they earn the bronze, silver, and gold levels. After
completing the second set of three different walks, the walker may purchase the number 2
in bronze, after the third series the number 3 in bronze. In the fourth through seventh
series the medal and numbers are in silver, and after the seventh series in gold, after
the tenth series in gold with laurel leaves, and after 25 series the blue with gold medal
may be obtained. That's 75 IML events!
After each IML
walk in one of the affiliated countries, the walker may purchase a bar on which the name
of the country is inscribed. This bar can be attached to the medal ribbon. Once a walker
has earned an IML stamp in each of the founding member's countries: Belgium, Switzerland,
Luxembourg, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria, and Japan he/she has the right to
the title of International Master Walker, an
entry into a register, a unique certificate, and an inscribed clip in silver or gold for
attaching the medal ribbon.
On completing
IML walks in eight of the European member countries, the walker is entitled to the
European Walker title, certificate, and clip.
Details of IML Events
New Zealand
| Australia | Israel | USA | Belgium | Switzerland | Britain | Canada | Sweden | Luxembourg | Denmark | Ireland | The Netherlands | Finland | Austria | Norway | Indonesia | Czech Republic | Germany | Taiwan | Korea | Japan
