Diamond League adopts championship model

The IAAF Diamond League, the 14-meeting elite circuit in the world athletics season, has adopted a championship-style model with the finalists competing for a prize pool of USD 3.2 million, organisers announced today.

Published : Dec 07, 2016 23:32 IST , Paris

Earlier, athletes accumulated points throughout the Diamond League season with the overall winner of each of the 32 events being the athlete with the most points irrespective of whether they won the final.
Earlier, athletes accumulated points throughout the Diamond League season with the overall winner of each of the 32 events being the athlete with the most points irrespective of whether they won the final.
lightbox-info

Earlier, athletes accumulated points throughout the Diamond League season with the overall winner of each of the 32 events being the athlete with the most points irrespective of whether they won the final.

The IAAF Diamond League, the 14-meeting elite circuit in the world athletics season, has adopted a championship-style model with the finalists competing for a prize pool of USD 3.2 million, organisers announced today.

In previous seasons, athletes accumulated points throughout the Diamond League season with the overall winner of each of the 32 events being the athlete with the most points irrespective of whether they won the final.

But in a major restructure aimed at throwing up a “dramatic showdown between the world’s best athletes”, competitors will from next season earn points in the first 12 Diamond League meetings to qualify for two final meetings where $100,000 will be at stake in each of the 32 Diamond disciplines, including $50,000 for each winner.

“After seven seasons which have established the IAAF Diamond League as our premier circuit it is important to assess its impact and build for the future,” said IAAF president Sebastian Coe, also chairman of the Diamond League board.

“These decisions are the first step to growing the attractiveness of the series.”

The 2017 season kicks off in Doha on May 5 before moving on to Shanghai, Eugene, Rome, Oslo, Stockholm, Paris, Lausanne, London, Rabat, Monaco and Birmingham. The two finals will be held in Zurich and Brussels on August 24 and September 1 respectively.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment