IAAF Announces International “Diamond League” – NY/OR In

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IAAF TO
LAUNCH GLOBAL DIAMOND LEAGUE OF 1 DAY MEETINGS

2 March 2009

Monte Carlo –
The IAAF is delighted to announce a major new initiative with the creation of a
new circuit of elite Athletics Meetings known as the ‰ÛÏIAAF Diamond
League‰Û starting in 2010.
 
A replacement for the current ÌÉF Golden League of 6 meetings ‰ÛÒ the new
IAAF Diamond League will meet one of the strategic goals of the IAAF, which is
to enhance the worldwide appeal of athletics, by going outside Europe for the first time.
 
At present, 12 meetings have signed contracts to join the Diamond League, with
3 others on standby, which means that there will be competitions in Asia,
Europe, the Middle East and the USA.
The final composition of the league will be confirmed at the end of the 2009
season.
 
Amongst the other innovations of this new league is that athletes from 32
different athletics events can take part, thanks to careful distribution of the
events amongst the different meetings. Starting in 2010, the IAAF Diamond
League will offer more athletes, more earning opportunities. All 32 disciplines
will have the same prize money with each meeting giving out $US 416,000. The
biggest stars of the sport will be engaged with centralised contracts to ensure
that the best athletes take part.
 
In each of the 32 events there will be an ‰ÛÏIAAF Diamond Race‰Û with
points available throughout the season. The athlete with the most points at the
end of the series will be awarded a 4 carat diamond (worth approximately $US
80,000)
 
The IAAF Diamond League will play a key role in supporting the IAAF World
Athletics Series of championships, as well as athletics at the Olympic Games,
by building up interest in athletics in the period leading up to and
immediately afterwards the main event.
 
The international TV rights for the IAAF Diamond League will be marketed by
IMG.
 
IAAF President Lamine Diack welcomed the creation of the Diamond League:
‰ÛÏI am delighted that the IAAF, in close association with the meeting
directors, has come up with a new professional circuit which will offer an
easily understandable series of meetings to provide world class entertainment
and also offer the maximum number of competition opportunities for a maximum
number of athletes in different events. Thanks to the support of the meetings,
we will be able to offer top class events that are based on solid financial
foundations, provide the best organisational capability and serve to promote
and develop the sport of athletics.‰Û
 
 
IAAF Diamond League

Aviva London Grand Prix
Aviva British Grand Prix
Athletissima Lausanne
ExxonMobil Bislett Games Oslo
DN Galan Stockholm
Herculis Monaco
Meeting AREVA Paris St-Denis
Memorial Van Damme Brussels
Prefontaine Classic Eugene
Reebok Grand Prix New York
China
Golden Grand Prix
Weltklasse Zurich
DKB ISTAF Berlin
*
Golden Gala Rome
*
Qatar Athletics Super Grand
Prix in Doha *
 
* contractual status to be confirmed