From next season, athletes will earn points in the first 12 IAAF 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.
In previous seasons, athletes accumulated points throughout the IAAF 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 season is now a race to reach the finals with the winners crowned as IAAF Diamond League Champions. As in a championship the performance of athletes in the final alone will determine who the champion will be and the prize money won.
The IAAF Diamond League finals will now offer a dramatic showdown between the world’s best athletes, a true climax to a four-month race across four continents.
Sebastian Coe, IAAF President and chairman of the Diamond League AG, commented: “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. These decisions are the first step to growing the attractiveness of the series.”
Bob Verbeeck, CEO of the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme: “This is a major recognition for our meeting and for the City of Brussels. It was a necessary step to take for our sports and for the IAAF Diamond League as a high level ambassador of Athletics. Competitions throughout the season will become more attractive, the finals more thrilling and exciting.”
Wilfried Meert, president of the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme also hails the restructure : “For the spectators in the stadium and the tv-audience things become clearer. We will now have true finals where the best athletes of the season compete against each other. The Diamond League Winner will now be the deserved champion of the athletics season.”
07 December, 2016
