NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 1 – IAAF President Sebastian Coe and Chief Executive Officer Jon Ridgeon have reassured Athletics Kenya (AK) that changes to the IAAF Diamond League format next year will not disadvantage African athletes.

Coe, Ridgeon and AK president Lt. General (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei met during the World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus in order to avoid any misunderstanding between the two organisations over the new Diamond League format approved by the IAAF Council in Doha earlier this month.

Athletics Kenya was particularly concerned by the exclusion of any event longer than 3000m from the Diamond League programme next year and the reduction in the number of meetings from 14 to 13.

Tuwei sought, and received, assurance that Kenyan and other East African athletes, who feature prominently in 5000m races, would not lose competition opportunities due to this process.

-Broadcast window 

He also sought to understand the reasons why the new format was being introduced.

Coe confirmed that the absence of the 5000m from the official Diamond League programme would not preclude individual Diamond League meetings from running the event outside of the 90-minute international broadcast window and that several meetings had already shown interest in hosting the 5000m.

Ridgeon explained that the IAAF’s market research showed that producing a series that consistently featured the best athletes competing against each other was a key factor in improving the appeal of the Diamond League for broadcasters and fans.

At the same time the 5000m runners, coaches and agents consulted during the process indicated that they were unlikely to run six races over that distance during the Diamond League series (last year no leading athlete ran more than two 5000m races during the regular Diamond League season).

-Best talent

The 3000m distance was selected because it was more likely to attract the best distance talent more regularly.

As a consequence, distance runners will have the option of running up to seven 3000m races (including the Diamond League Final), plus additional 5000m races, across the season.

“We believe that ultimately these changes will be beneficial not only to Kenyan and East African distance runners, but to our leading athletes around the globe, because it will result in a stronger, higher-profile, commercially-successful annual showcase series for our sport,” Coe said.

“And it’s important to remember that the IAAF will be creating other continental competition opportunities outside the Diamond League as we redesign the global calendar.” This he affirmed will increase opportunities for the athletes to compete.

Ridgeon also emphasised the IAAF’s intention to review the new format at the end of the 2020 season and make any adjustments to the programme that were required.

-Tuwei satisfied 

Tuwei responded: “I am satisfied that our athletes will receive sufficient opportunities to compete internationally in 2020 and I am reassured by the IAAF’s undertaking that the impact of these decisions will be considered again at the end of each season and Member Federations consulted about any changes that might be needed.”

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

IAAF, AK reach agreement on Diamond League

rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Warriors thump Hornets, take one game lead over Nuggetsrn

rn rn Basketballrn rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Napoli run riot in Rome to pull clear of Inter Milanrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Benzema saves Real Madrid blushes with late Huesca winnerrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Marquez cruises to 45th MotoGP win, Rossi grabs secondrn

rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Federer sweeps past Isner in Miami final for 101st titlern

rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Mbappe fan sneaks on-pitch selfie during PSG gamern

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Van Dijk house hunting after landlord Solskjaer lands Utd jobrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Wait continues for Nyayo Stadium openingrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Gor hit Kariobangi Sharks to go top of KPLrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn A day in the life of Harambee Stars Captain Victor Wanyamarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Chebet wins Junior gold for Kenya after appealrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Kasarani miss might push Gor to Machakosrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Magufuli gifts Taifa Stars players with landrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Logarusic open to Kenya coaching returnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Ethiopia crush Kenya to Mixed Relay goldrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Warriors thump Hornets, take one game lead over Nuggets

rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Napoli run riot in Rome to pull clear of Inter Milan

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Benzema saves Real Madrid blushes with late Huesca winner

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Marquez cruises to 45th MotoGP win, Rossi grabs second

rn rn rn Motorsrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Federer sweeps past Isner in Miami final for 101st title

rn rn rn Gamern rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL GOR MAHIA ADVANCE TO CAF CONFEDERATION CUP QUARTERS?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Mbappe fan sneaks on-pitch selfie during PSG game

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Hamilton wins Bahrain Grand Prix after Leclerc heartbreak

rn rn rn Motorsrn rn Sunday, 31st Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Sarri vows to fight as Chelsea ride luck amid fan mutiny

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 31st Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Klopp hails Liverpool’s will to secure dramatic win over Tottenham

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Warnock rages over Cardiff’s controversial defeat

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 31st Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn IAAFrn IAAF, AK reach agreement on Diamond Leaguern rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn IAAFrn Obiri turns focus to track after Aarhus heroicsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn IAAFrn Masai, Kipkoech claim Warsaw Kenyan doublern rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Warriors thump Hornets, take one game lead over Nuggetsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Napoli run riot in Rome to pull clear of Inter Milanrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tVan Dijk house hunting after landlord Solskjaer lands Utd jobrn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWait continues for Nyayo Stadium openingrn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 28th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tGor hit Kariobangi Sharks to go top of KPLrn

rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tA day in the life of Harambee Stars Captain Victor Wanyamarn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tChebet wins Junior gold for Kenya after appealrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKasarani miss might push Gor to Machakosrn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tMagufuli gifts Taifa Stars players with landrn

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 25th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tLogarusic open to Kenya coaching returnrn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tEthiopia crush Kenya to Mixed Relay goldrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn IAAFrn IAAF, AK reach agreement on Diamond Leaguern rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn IAAFrn Obiri turns focus to track after Aarhus heroicsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn IAAFrn Masai, Kipkoech claim Warsaw Kenyan doublern rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Warriors thump Hornets, take one game lead over Nuggetsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Napoli run riot in Rome to pull clear of Inter Milanrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */