International Marching League Events

What is the IML - International Marching League? It is a series of annual walks that take place in different countries with the purpose of promoting international travel and friendship through walking. Currently 14 countries host walks as part of the series and at others have applied for membership. The League operates as a not-for-profit organization. Most of the walks are IVV sanctioned events also, but a few are operated independently and in countries where there is no IVV association, such as Taiwan.

Membership in the IML walk series depends on a satisfactory report from an IML judging committee. Their recommendations are passed along to current IML members' delegates who then vote on acceptance. Thereafter, the walks will be certified as official IML events.

AVA IML

Discovery Walk Festival, Vancouver, Washington State. Fourth weekend of April

IML Award System

The IML has an optional award system to encourage walkers to travel to other countries, and this award system is entirely compatible with the IVV system. There is no conflict. People may participate in both and earn "credit' in both systems by walking a single walking event.

In order to earn an IML credit stamp, each day the walker must complete at least 20 kilometers according to the rules of the local organization. The regular walk route must be walked, and the regular number of days must be walked. For example, if it is a three-day walk, that means three days of walking. All IML events must be at least two days long.

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 specail 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. Its inscription is "Nos Iungat Ambulare" which means "Let Walking Unite Us."

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 Japn 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.

Calendar 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

Copyright January 2003, American Volkssport Association