Diamond League: Everything you need to know about the 2021 World Athletics series
When does the Diamond League start? How many Diamond League events are there? How does someone become the Diamond League champion? Do Diamond League athletes get paid? Answers to those questions and more...
Athletics
If you want to follow the athletics stars ahead of Tokyo 2020, the official World Athletics-organised Diamond League is the best way to do it.
The world’s fastest and strongest track and field athletes will compete over 32 disciplines in 14 stops across the globe.
Here is everything you need to know about the Diamond League ahead of this exciting Olympic season.
Diamond League Gateshead: Dina Asher-Smith faces stiff competition
The action kicks off in Gateshead in the United Kingdom on Sunday 23 May with a jam-packed two-hour schedule full of top-quality athlete from across the globe.
The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in Rabat, Morocco, but was relocated to the North East of England because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The women’s 100m entry list looks like an excellent guide to those expected to shine in the Olympic final on Saturday 31 July in Tokyo.
Double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, two-time Olympic gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, British world champion Dina Asher-Smith and in-form world leading time holder Sha’Carri Richardson of the United States are all set to battle for top position.
The men’s pole vault promises to be one of the highlights of the Olympic Games in Japan. Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis broke the world record in Glasgow in 2020 with a jump of 6.18m.
He’s being pushed by reigning world champion Sam Kendricks of USA and three-time world championship medallist Piotr Lisek of Poland.
Reigning Olympic champion triple jumper Caterine Ibargüen will also be in action.
Gateshead will also showcase four reigning Paralympic champions in the sprints with Sophie Hah, Libby Clegg, Kadeena Cox, and Richard Whitehead all on the entry list.
What disciplines are there at each Diamond League?
Not every Diamond League contains every single Olympic athletics discipline.
For example, Doha won’t have a 100m men’s race.
There was a plan to reduce the number of disciplines for 2020 but 2021 will see the full 32 disciplines in the programme reinstated.
The best way to check what disciplines are taking place is by looking at the schedule for each event.
Do Diamond League athletes get paid?
There is prize money at stake for the athletes competing in all of the disciplines. Male and female competitors receive the same amount.
Every event will have a total 25,000 USD available for every discipline.
There is half a million USD set aside as a bonus for ‘Best Performing Athletes’ throughout the season.
In total, seven million USD of prize money is up for grabs.
How does someone become the Diamond League champion?
Athletes earn points at the different meetings in order to qualify for the final in their discipline.
The final is over two days in Zurich from 8-9 September.
The winner in each discipline at the final is awarded a Diamond League Trophy and 30,000 USD in prize money.
The Diamond League encompasses 32 Diamond Disciplines, following a championship-style model.
Athletes earn points at the 13 series meetings to qualify for the final of their discipline.
Where can I watch the Diamond League?
Check your local listings to see if your country is showing the events live or a highlights package.
There is the list from the 2020 local listings as a guide but they are subject to changes for the new season.
The official YouTube channel also has plenty of highlights to catch up on anything you may have missed.
How many Diamond League events are there?
In total, there are 14 events planned in cities across the planet.
Doha is the next stop after Gateshead in the calendar on Friday May 28.
The full list of events in below:
Gateshead - 23 May 2021
Doha - 28 May 2021
Rome/Florence - 10 June 2021
Oslo - 1 July 2021
Stockholm - 4 July 2021
Monaco - 9 July 2021
London - 13 July 2021
Shanghai - 14 August 2021
Eugene - 21 August 2021
China (exact location - tbc) - 22 August 2021
Lausanne - 26 August 2021
Paris - 28 August 2021
Brussels - 3 September 2021
Zurich - 8 - 9 September 2021