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≡ DOHA DIAMOND LEAGUE ≡
The continuing war in Iran has caused significant changes to the schedules of many international sporting events and on Wednesday, track and field’s Wanda Diamond League was hit.
With the opener scheduled for Doha (QAT) on 8 May and Iranian missiles shot at the country, the inevitable outcome was at least a postponement, confirmed Wednesday:
“In recent weeks, the Diamond League has been monitoring the situation in Doha, working in close coordination with meeting organisers, Qatari authorities and other stakeholders.
“In the interests of athlete and spectator safety, a decision has now been taken to postpone the meeting. Should conditions allow, it will now be held on June 19.
“As temperatures are expected to be higher in Doha in June, the meeting will also be moved from the Qatar Sports Club to the Khalifa International Stadium.
“The stadium, which hosted both the Diamond League and the World Athletics Championships in 2019, is temperature regulated, allowing athletes to compete safely even in hotter conditions.”
The statement noted that the situation will continue to be evaluated in view of the conflict in and around Iran.
So, the Diamond League schedule now looks like this:
● 16 May (Sat.): Shanghai (CHN)
● 23 May (Sat.): Xiamen (CHN)
● 31 May (Sun.): Rabat (MAR)
● 04 June (Thu.): Rome (ITA)
● 07 June (Sun.): Stockholm (SWE)
● 10 June (Wed.): Oslo (NOR)
● 19 June (Fri.): Doha (QAT) ~ new date
● 28 June (Sun.): Paris (FRA)
● 04 July (Sat.): Eugene (USA)
● 10 July (Fri.): Monaco (MON)
● 18 July (Sat.): London (GBR)
● 21 Aug. (Fri.): Lausanne (SUI)
● 23 Aug. (Sun.): Chorzow (POL)
● 27 Aug. (Thu.): Zurich (SUI)
● 04-05 Sep. (Fri.-Sat.): Final in Brussels (BEL)
There are still 15 meets in all (16 meet days), held across almost four months, in 13 countries – China and Switzerland have two each – and on five different days of the week.
● 4 on Sunday: Rabat, Stockholm, Paris, Chorzow
● Monday: none
● Tuesday: none
● 1 on Wednesday: Oslo
● 2 on Thursday: Rome, Zurich
● 4 on Friday: Doha, Monaco, Lausanne, Brussels I
● 5 on Saturday: Shanghai, Xiamen, Eugene, London, Brussels II
This is a continuing weakness of the Diamond League schedule, as fans – unlike those in other sports – cannot count on seeing a meet on a predictable, consistent schedule, instead of the usual arrangement reminiscent of the 1969 comedy, “If It’s Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium.”
But with some luck, there will be a Doha meet in the 2026 Diamond League; the meet has been held annually since 1997 and was part of the inaugural Diamond League season in 2010. It has always been held in May except for the Covid-impacted 2020 season, when it was held in September.
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