Did the Diamond League work?
The inaugural Samsung Diamond League season concluded at Brussels last week, so we ask a number of leading athletes, did the Diamond League work?
Barbora Spotakova – Czech javelin thrower and Diamond League winner
“I have been excited to compete in the DL series, especially the final. The atmosphere was terrific. I like the balanced concept of events (not preferred events like the Golden League) as well as the equal prize money system. It will be important for the future to increase the quality of the meetings, especially outside Europe.”
Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie – The veteran Bahamian sprinter and 2009 World 200m bronze medallist
"I think in some areas the Diamond League has worked. It has been exciting to compete in the series and I look forward on ironing out some of the hitch that occurred. However, from the athletes’ perspective, for the most part there has been disappointments. For example, less pay (at times when there is heats no pay), there is not much climatic incentive for the DL final except for the winner. Contracted ambassadors can be hurt and cannot compete and it still lacks the excited match-ups in certain events as promised. Also the points system may have elevated athletes motivation to compete, however only the top 3 are guaranteed a final place, hence it is contradictory to the idea of a final etc. This affects everyone involved and I hope we can all work together to improve the DL for next year."
Shannon Rowbury – World 1500m bronze medallist from the USA
“It makes me very excited that the IAAF has put so much time and money into making a series like the Diamond League. In a non-championship year like this, it has been nice to be able to plan for a series of high quality races and thus give my training and season structure. I miss the big finale of World Athletics Final, but it is nice that with the current set up athletes have more opportunities to double."
Allyson Felix – Three-time World 200m champion and 200m and 400m Diamond League champion
“The Diamond League concept is great! I think it had a promising inaugural year, but unfortunately due to injuries some of those exciting head-to-head match-ups were not delivered. I'm excited for next years Diamond League season and being able to compete in some of the many great races."
Carmelita Jeter – US sprinter and 100m Diamond League champion
“I enjoyed the experience of the Diamond League and really enjoyed winning it and having the opportunity to win it. The Diamond League was a fresh idea for the sport and gave us better branding and something to tie the top meets around the world together.
There are several things that I feel that should be improved to make a good concept even better. The first is to add more races this year I had about 40 to 50% less races, because of the split programme concept. I believe this hurt our event and others because I was never truly able to get into a race rhythm. If you look at my summer season it was broken up into segments and when I really found my groove in Monaco after my fourth race of the month we had a long break.
This break was great to see family, but not great for my running as I came back in London and was not in my rhythm I did run better in Zurich and still think if there where more races one after another with less long breaks I and others would have run faster.
The other thing that hurt me early on was the travel to Asia early in the season and then trying to go race in Europe. I found that very draining and this is why I needed a long break after Oslo I was just totally drained from the travel.
I do think the concept is good but like all things new something's need to be adjusted to make a good idea better. I trust that the meeting directors will find solutions to the things I and others bring up and that the 2011 Diamond League will be even better. I am looking forward to the 2011 season with the World Championships and the second season of the Diamond League."
David Oliver – World No.1 in the 110m hurdles and Diamond League winner from the USA
"I believed the Diamond League worked very well this year. It was a lot easier for the fans to keep up with. The organisers did an amazing job with the on screen graphics making sure the fans could keep up to date stats on what the rankings were right after the race.
From an athlete standpoint, it worked because more events got a chance to shine and show their stuff to the world. Being in the 110m hurdles, we always were on display, but the women shot put and javelin for instance got a chance to enjoy some spotlight. They also got the opportunity to make a lot of money this season.
It was very organised and structured and everything was out in the open as far as invitation rules and prize money, transparency is great.
My only concern was the travel and the spacing of the events. It would have been good to have meets like New York and Eugene host the same events as well as Doha and Shanghai for instance. I think it would be a lot better for our European/Asian/Oceanic counterparts to have a chance to come over and experience the United States for two races as opposed to one, they may be more inclined to come over and compete making a true international event.
Of course I would love to see the prize money increased as well!
All in all, it was a definite improvement over the Golden League and I can't wait for competition to start next season!
Gerd Kanter – Olympic discus champion from Estonia.
“Overall it’s a good idea and very positive for athletics. In a lot of events, especially the field events there was more competitions at a higher level. The results service via the internet was much better and it was a good example for the organisers. After all we are in 2010 and not 1980! I would also say that athletics is not only running there are field events, too and field events are often on the periphery. I hope that technical developments in future will allow people to follow the athletics with two or three pictures on the internet at the same time.”
***We'll look back more on the Samsung Diamond League in the coming weeks....