The International Association of Athletics Federations announced Monday that the Nike Prefontaine Classic, to be held at Hayward Field on June 7 this year, will be one of at least 12 globally televised track and field meets called the “Diamond League” that will begin in 2010.
The distinction is an upgrade from the IAAF’s current Golden League schedule of six meets, held almost entirely in Europe. The IAAF expects the new meet schedule to expand to Asia and the Middle East, and will expand to 32 events that will each have equal prize money. Each meet will award $416,000 in prize money.
The Prefontaine Classic has been a IAAF Grand Prix meet and has brought top-tier talent to Hayward Field despite not being a part of the prestigious Golden League schedule.
Like the Golden League, which split a pot of $1 million for the athletes who were undefeated during the schedule, there are monetary awards for consistency in the new schedule.
Points are tallied for performances at each meet, and the event winners at the conclusion of the schedule will each win a four-carat diamond.
A press release said the current Diamond League schedule for 2010 includes the Aviva London Grand Prix; Aviva British Grand Prix; Athletissima Lausanne; Bislett Games Oslo; DN Galan Stockholm; Herculis Monaco; Meeting Areva Paris St-Denis; Memorial Van Damme Brussels; Prefontaine Classic Eugene; Reebok Grand Prix New York; China Golden Grand Prix; Weltklasse Zurich; DKB ISTAF Berlin; Golden Gala Rome; and Qatar Athletics Super Grand Prix in Doha. Additional meets in Berlin, Rome and Doha, Qatar, have yet to be added without signed contracts.
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