For the athletics competitions at the 2004 Summer Olympics, the following qualification systems were in place.
Qualifying standards A National Olympic Committee (NOC) may enter up to 3 qualified athletes in each individual event if all athletes meet the A standard during the qualifying period. An NOC may also enter a maximum of 1 qualified if they have met the B standard. An NOC may also enter a maximum of 1 qualified relay team per event. NOCs may enter athletes regardless of mark (1 athlete per gender) if they have no athletes meeting the entry standard. This makes it possible for every nation to have a minimum of one representative of each gender in the sport.http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/tfn_pdfs/ogqualifying_standards.pdf
The qualifying time standards may be obtained in various meets during the given period that have the approval of the IAAF. All approved outdoor meets and indoor meets with the exception of 100 m, 200 m and 110 /100 m hurdles races are eligible.
For the relays, the top 16 teams in each division were accepted.
The NOCs are still allowed to select athletes using their own rules, on the condition that all of them have made the qualifying time. For example, the United States selects athletes based on the results of the 2004 United States Olympic Trials event. Sweden only enters athletes deemed good enough to reach at least the eighth position, based on an assessment by the Swedish NOC.
The IAAF Qualifying Standards were as follows:
Men's eventsWomen's events Event A Standard B Standard Event A Standard B Standard100 m10.2110.28100 m11.3211.42200 m20.5920.75200 m22.9723.13400 m45.5545.95400 m51.5052.30800 m1:46.001:47.00800 m2:00.002:01.301500 m3:36.203:38.001500 m4:05.804:07.155000 m13:21.5013:25.405000 m15:08.7015:20.4510,000 m27:49.0028:06.0010,000 m31:45.0032:17.00110 m hurdles13.5513.72100 m hurdles12.9613.11400 m hurdles49.2049.50400 m hurdles55.6056.253000 m steeplechase8:24.608:32.00———Marathon2:15:002:18:00Marathon2:37:002:42:00High jump2.302.27High jump1.951.91Pole vault5.655.55Pole vault4.404.25Long jump8.198.05Long jump6.706.55Triple jump16.9516.55Triple jump14.2014.00Shot put20.3020.00Shot put18.3017.20Discus throw64.0062.55Discus throw61.0057.70Hammer throw78.6574.35Hammer throw67.5064.00Javelin throw81.8077.80Javelin throw60.5056.00Decathlon80007700Heptathlon605059004 × 100 m relayTop 16 from top lists4 × 100 m relayTop16 from top lists4 × 400 m relayTop 16 from top lists4 × 400 m relayTop 16 from top lists
References