IAAF DIAMOND LEAGUE GUARANTEED UNTIL 2019, ANNOUNCES PRESIDENT DIACK

The next five years of the IAAF Diamond League are guaranteed following a new agreement announced by IAAF President Lamine Diack in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday (8).

“The IAAF Diamond League is a valuable asset for the IAAF,” President Diack told the traditional pre-meeting press conference that was being streamed live via the internet for the first time and so reached a global audience.

The official signing took place during a special General Assembly of the Diamond League which was held recently in Zurich.

“Therefore I am delighted to announce that the IAAF has agreed a new contract with our partners which will ensure the IAAF’s continued support of the series to at least 2019,” he added ahead of the start of the 2014 series in Doha on Friday.

The President said that since the Diamond League was established in 2010, with the first meeting having being in Doha, it had, “established itself in the hearts and minds of sports fans worldwide”.

The IAAF Diamond League encompasses 14 meetings in Asia, the Middle East and the United States, as well as Europe.

“Our vision in 2009 was to create a new, exciting product for an athletics top-tier invitational circuit,” he said.

“While there remain many challenges ahead, the IAAF firmly believes that we have made an exceptionally good start in the first four years.

“The IAAF Diamond League offers the best of athletics entertainment outside the World Championships and Olympic Games.