All you need to know about the Doha Diamond League 2019

By www.ceylonathletics.com | May 1, 2019 | English, International News, Latest News, Top Stories

The tenth edition of the annual IAAF Diamond League , a fourteen-leg series of track and field meetings, is happening this 3rd of May at the humongous Khalifa International Stadium.

The third edition to feature the new championship-style system, this year’s Diamond League encompasses 32 individual Event Disciplines, with a points scoring ‘Diamond Race’ which runs throughout the 14 meeting series.

This year’s IAAF DDL opener will be the tenth time that Qatar will host the prestigious one-day event. It will also be the first time that the 2019 opener will be held at one of Qatar’s most iconic sports venue the Khalifa International Stadium which will be the same location to host the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 later this year.

If you’re as excited as we are, then you might want to scroll down for everything that you need to know about the 2019 IAAF DDL and the upcoming meetings that will follow Doha in the coming months.

What is the IAAF Diamond League?

The IAAF Diamond League is an annual series of elite track and field athletic competitions. It is composed of 14 of the best invitational track and field meetings in the world. The meetings are spread across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the USA, and compose the top tier of the IAAF’s global one-day meeting competition structure.

How many track and field disciplines make up the IAAF Diamond League?

The IAAF Diamond League encompasses 32 Diamond Disciplines, following a championship style model. Athletes earn points at the qualification meetings to qualify for the final of their discipline.

The track and field disciplines for DDL 2019 are Hurdles, Discus Throw, Pole Vault, Steeplechase, Shot Put, High Jump, and Long Jump.

What is the scoring for IAAF Diamond League like?

Each of the disciplines is staged six or four times before the Final. At each of the 14 qualification meetings, Athletes are awarded 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 points for ranking 1st to 8th respectively. The top 8 or 12 Athletes (depending on the discipline) will be awarded a start at the Final. In case of a tie, the best legal performance of the qualification phase wins.

Where are the 14 qualification meetings for IAAF Diamond League going to be held?

Here’s the schedule for the 2019 season:

Doha (QAT) – 3rd May
Shanghai (CHN) – 18th May
Stockholm (SWE) – 30th May
Rome (ITA) – 06th June
Oslo (NOR) – 13th June
Rabat (MAR) – 16th June
Eugene / Stanford (USA) – 30th June
Lausanne (SUI) – 05th July
Monaco (MON) – 12th July
London (GBR) – 20th/21st July
Birmingham (GBR) – 18th August
Paris (FRA) – 24th August
Zurich (SUI) – 29th August
Brussels (BEL) – 06th September

How are winners being determined?

The winner at the Final of each Diamond Discipline will become “IAAF Diamond League Champion” and be awarded a Diamond Trophy, USD 50,000 prize money, and a wild card for the IAAF World Championships (certain conditions apply).

New Doha venue

Khalifa Stadium

Ever since the inaugural Diamond League season in 2010, opening meetings in Doha has always been held at the Qatar Sports Club.

On the tenth anniversary of the series, that is about to change, as this year’s circuit kicks off at the bigger and more bombastic Khalifa International Stadium. The newly-renovated arena now holds 48,000 spectators and will be a key venue at the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup games.

Who are the popular athletes who are set to play in Doha?

Some of the global champions competing in the IAAF DDL on May 3 include the likes of Caterine Ibarguen, Tianna Bartoletta, Sam Kendricks, Brianna McNeal, and Sally Pearson.