African athletes will not lose competition openings despite the introduction of a trimmer Diamond League format next year, the sport’s world governing body (IAAF) said on Sunday.
IAAF and Athletics Kenya reach understanding on new Diamond League format
— IAAF (@iaaforg) March 31, 2019
đź“°: https://t.co/joUpAxe73k pic.twitter.com/Gq9T7iYh1N
Diamond League meetings will be reduced from 14 to 12 competitions plus a final, with events longer than 3,000Â
(Reuters) – African athletes will not lose competition opportunities despite the introduction of a trimmer Diamond League format next year, the sport's world governing body (IAAF) said on Sunday. https://t.co/voAUcupokb pic.twitter.com/zwwehow6h9
— Sporting Bet & News (@sportsbetbf) March 31, 2019
Athletics Kenya (AK) president Jackson Tuwei hadÂ
The IAAF will create an 'action-packed @Diamond_League format for broadcasters.
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) March 12, 2019
Would you watch a 90-minute track meet on TV? https://t.co/tJ48tjRFpK
IAAF President Sebastian Coe and CEO Jon Ridgeon met Tuwei during the World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus and provided assurances that Kenyan and other East African athletes would not be disadvantaged, the governing body said.
Diamond League format
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) March 11, 2019
– 12 meets with one final at the end
– 24 disciplines (12 male and 12 female)
– Longest race will be 3,000 meters
– More field events held outside of the stadium
– Each meet will have a 90-min broadcast https://t.co/7lXcvBkyjt
Coe clarified that the absence of the 5,000m from the official programme would not prevent individual Diamond League meetings from running the event outside of the 90-minute broadcast window.
The new @Diamond_League format is like the electoral college: If it works in your favor it's genius, if not folks want to abolish it. 50/50
— Tianna T. Bartoletta (@tibartoletta) September 2, 2017
“We believe that ultimately these changes will be beneficial not only to Kenyan and East African distance runners, but to our leading athletes around the globe, because it will result in a stronger, higher-profile, commercially-successful annual showcase series for our sport,” Coe said in a statement https://www.iaaf.org/news/press-release/diamond-league-2020-5000m-kenya.
“And it’s important to remember that the IAAF will be creating other continental competition opportunities outside the Diamond League as we redesign the global calendar.”
$3.2 million prize money in new championship style format for Finals of 2017 IAAF Diamond League – More: https://t.co/PkABx36A2b pic.twitter.com/wkPICKdbUB
— IAAF (@iaaforg) December 7, 2016
The IAAF said the 3,000m was selected because the 5,000m runners, coaches and agents indicated they were unlikely to feature in all six races over that distance during the Diamond League series.
Ridgeon said the governing body will make further adjustments to the new Diamond League format at the end of the 2020 season.
“I am satisfied that our athletes will receive sufficient opportunities to compete internationally in 2020 and I am reassured by the IAAF’s undertaking that the impact of these decisions will be considered again at the end of each season and Member Federations consulted about any changes that might be needed,” he said.
Tuwei was pleased with the outcome of discussions held with the IAAF chiefs.