In a nutshell, what is the new Diamond League?
The IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) Diamond League is a new professional circuit with an easy-to-understand concept, a maximum number of competition opportunities for a maximum number of athletes in different events, and prize money totalling more than US$6 million. A replacement for the former Golden League of six meetings only in Europe, the 14 fixtures of the IAAF Diamond League will include Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the US.

So what’s the format exactly?
There are 32 event disciplines that will be contested in the IAAF Diamond League, with events essentially being staged by each meeting on a rotational basis, which means that one year, for example, the men’s 100m will be staged in Brussels but not in Zürich, and the following year it will be Zürich’s turn to have the 100m and not Brussels. There will be a turnaround for all 32 events, which will be shared amongst the meetings (with each presenting between 15 and 17 event disciplines), with the exception of the Aviva London Grand Prix, whose two-day format will be maintained, and therefore the British capital will
stage all 32 events over the space of 48 hours.

How does the IAAF Diamond Race fit in?
Each of these 32 event disciplines encompasses its own season-long Diamond Race, with athletes scoring points with no restriction of number of meetings, but limited to one single event (so points scored for 100m and 200m cannot be added). The person with the most points in each event wins his or her Diamond Race and the plaudit of being best in the world. We will announce the winners of these at the final meeting. There will be two separate finals – one in Zürich and one in Brussels – with each staging 16 different events. Zürich and Brussels have been chosen, in principle, as hosts of the finals for the next three years, but it will be possible for any other meeting, should its quality surpass expectations, to take over the final in the following year.

Why choose Doha as the first venue on the calendar?
Because it is an important emerging market for the sport of athletics, and was an excellent host of the recent IAAF World Indoor Championship. Doha for us is a trusted organiser, and as a host for a one-day meeting we felt it was always a strong candidate to be part of the series. That Doha is first is largely down to climate reasons – any later and conditions would be too hot for the athletes.

Any particular reason the IAAF decided to create the new Diamond League?
There has always been a strong one-day meeting circuit in athletics. In fact some of the meetings in the IAAF Diamond League have a history dating back 50 years or more. So rather this process marks the consolidation of the existing circuit, with the central goal being to make it easier for the public to understand. There is also the IAAF World Challenge, which represents the second tier of global one-day competition, with each meeting including 16 events balanced across the full range of disciplines, with prize money totalling a minimum of US$200,000 (per meeting).

It’s described on the website as ‘the best of track and field’ – what does that mean?
Succinctly put, the IAAF Diamond League guarantees the public (spectators or TV audience) that they will see the best athletes in the world competing regularly throughout the season against their best opponents, vying to win the best overall prize money purse in the sport.

You have five IAAF Diamond League ambassadors taking part in the Doha event. What is their role?
All IAAF Diamond League ambassadors have the duty of promoting the IAAF Diamond League generally, and specifically in terms of Doha the five who will compete there will take part in media telephone conferences, website chats with fans, and also in person in Doha will represent the IAAF Diamond League at two media events.

The Diamond League one-day event will take place in Doha on May 14 at Khalifa Stadium, from 6pm. For more info, see the website at www.diamondleague.com. Tickets available from www.diamondleague.com.