Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland, August 12, 1928
Soon after the Amsterdam Games, one of the most significant invitational meets in athletics history began. The first-ever Leichtathletik-Meeting in Zürich gala was held on August 12, 1928. However, it was unofficially dubbed the "Nurmi Meeting" after the biggest star booked for the event, who was also likely the highest-paid amateur athlete. Later, the name Weltklasse became established. The organizing club was FC Zürich.
Germany's Jakob Schüller sprinted to victory in the 100 and 200 with 10.8 and 22.4, respectively. Future world record holder Sylvio Cator (of Haiti) launched himself to 7.37 (24-2¼) in the long jump.
Nurmi himself easily won the 5000 with what was, for him, a mediocre time of 15:18.3.
As Nurmi was preparing to depart for an invitational meet in Paris, and from there to Zürich, he received a surprise visitor at the Amsterdam railway station. America's top distance runner, Joie Ray, had sought out the "King of Runners." He had brought a picture of Nurmi, whom he greatly admired, on his trip to Amsterdam, hoping to get it autographed. While waiting for the train to depart, the man from Turku scribbled on the photo: "Best regards, Paavo Nurmi." After that, they even took a photo together with Ray's camera. Hopefully, the photo is still preserved by Ray's estate.
Nowadays, all the world's top athletes compete at the Zürich meet, and the sprints, for example, feature a legion of Americans. At the first Weltklasse, however, they were not yet present. It was not for nothing that Weltklasse was considered an unofficial World Championship before the first official World Championships were launched.
Athletes were well paid in Zürich, even during the amateur era. According to urban legend, IAAF officials looked the other way when the brown envelopes changed hands.
Helsingin Sanomat 14.8.1928 (in Finnish)