Zurich to host Diamond League final in 2020 and 2021 as the League undergoes reform to become stronger and more relevant to athletes and fans

 

• Diamond League with a more consistent, action-packed format
• Decision on meetings included in 2020 to be made in September 2019
• Decision on disciplines in the international broadcast window to be made in October 2019

 

Weltklasse Zurich will host the 2020 and 2021 Diamond League finals under the new one-final format that was jointly announced by the IAAF and Diamond League in March this year.

The Diamond League was established in 2010 with two finals, traditionally held in Zurich and Brussels, but for the next two years Zurich, long considered one of the pre-eminent one-day meetings in the world, will host the single final.

The selection of the final venue was also influenced by the scheduled renovation of the King Baudoin Stadium in Brussels over the next two years.

The history of the Zurich meeting goes back to 1928, when Paavo Nurmi was the star of the first international meeting held at the Letzigrund Stadium. Weltklasse Zurich, which was recognised with an IAAF Heritage Plaque this year, has been setting standards for athletics ever since and the Diamond League board is confident that it will produce a fitting climax to the 2020 and 2021 one-day seasons.

“Zurich has been the home of many of the most extraordinary moments in athletics over more than 90 years, including 25 world records, and we are delighted that it will host the pinnacle one-day meeting of 2020," says IAAF President Sebastian Coe.

“The Diamond League is vital to our future growth as it provides an annual showcase of the very best in athletics, which is why we must ensure that every contest broadcast to the world is of the highest standard. We expect the new Diamond League format to be even more thrilling for our global audience as it builds excitement throughout the outdoor season and reaches a crescendo in Zurich.”

The Diamond League finals will feature a 150-minute international broadcast, an hour longer than the regular season meetings, which will move to a 90-minute international broadcast, featuring a tailored programme of disciplines.

However, each meeting will have the choice of adding extra events to its schedule, outside the core broadcast window, creating opportunities for a wider range of disciplines to be showcased to spectators and the domestic broadcast throughout the season.

The Diamond League board will decide on the full 2020 schedule of 12 regular season meetings at its next session in September , changes will remain pending final ratification by the General Assembly of Diamond League on 21^st October 2019. The list of disciplines that will be included in the broadcast window will be decided at the end of the outdoor season.

We continue to count on support from our long-standing partners IMG who are successfully marketing the media rights and Omega for delivering world-class services and technology innovations for the Diamond League.

 

Note to editors:

The IAAF Diamond League from 2020-2024: In the next five years, the Diamond League will be an even stronger circuit across the same core disciplines for both men and women. It will deliver a more consistent, action-packed format for broadcasters and fans to follow the top global athletes competing head to head for points that qualify them for a place in the season final. The winners of the IAAF Diamond League Final are given automatic qualification to the World Championships.

Changes to the Diamond League from 2020 onwards, including one final event:

• The series will include the very best 13 meetings including the final, based on the quality criteria developed last year.
• An agreed upon 24 disciplines (12 male and 12 female) will run across the 12 meetings during the international broadcast window. Each meeting will host 12 of the 24 disciplines – 6 male and 6 female events. Diamond League Champions will be crowned in all 24 disciplines at the final.
• Other disciplines may take place at each meet outside the international broadcast window and also outside the stadium. These events will continue to be at the discretion of the meet organisers as they are today.
• In the years 2020 and 2021 the Diamond League Final will be held in Zurich. From 2022 to 2024 the final can rotate annually as all meetings will be invited to apply to host the final.
• Each meeting will be broadcast globally in a faster-paced, 90-minute television programme which will link the events and the athletes’ Diamond League scoring points so fans can more easily follow the road to a single final at the end of the season.
• A strong digital focus so athletics fans can better follow and connect with the athletes and the whole series rather than just a favourite few meets.
• The Diamond League continues to build on the success of staging some field events in city centres to bring these events and athletes closer to the fans.

 

The IAAF and the 14 meeting organisers began discussing reforms last year. A working group has since consulted with athletes, fans, broadcasters and partners to identify what needs to change and evolve to keep this annual showcase of athletics relevant and fresh for athletes and fans.