IAAF Diamond League Press Conference - Officials

Doha, May 09 (QNA) - The official IAAF Diamond League Press Conference took place today. It featured high ranking officials from the IAAF and the Qatar Athletics Federations: IAAF President, Lamine Diack; His Excellency Dahlan Al-Hamad, President of Qatar Athletics Federation; Mohammed Al-Kuwari, Secretary General of Qatar Athletics Federation and Nick Davies, IAAF Deputy Secretary General. President Diack opened the proceedings with a warm welcome to the athletes and the international media attending, and went on to highlight the importance of tomorrow’s meeting. "Doha 2013 will be the best competition in the meetings history", Diack stated. "It will be a night of great entertainment featuring ten Olympic and 14 World Champions in addition to local stars like Mutaz Barshim." President Diack praised the Doha organisers experience as hosts, so brilliantly displayed at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships and at the inaugural event of each of the three previous Diamond League seasons. He also highlighted the continuous growth of the Diamond League format since its inception. "The IAAF very much appreciates the continued interest and enthusiasm for our sport shown by the Emir of Qatar and the Crown Prince, who is President of the National Olympic Committee. "The Diamond League has established itself, in just three years, in the imaginary of sports fans worldwide. Expanding on the Europe-based Golden League, it now reaches a worldwide TV audience greater than anything we ever dreamt for the Golden League. "Our vision from the very beginning was to create a new, exciting product for the top tier of the sports invitational circuit, and that has been achieved," concluded Diack, "we now have a highly attractive asset, one worthy of our direct investment." His Excellency Dahlan Al Hamad also welcomed all participants and athletes to the event. His intervention highlighted how the continuous improvement of Dohas event goes beyond just raising the bar among athletics events, but is setting the city and Qatar as credible hosts for the most prestigious sport events in the world. "Our goal is to constantly improve and set the standards higher and higher. Inviting so many world class athletes and providing the best possible level of services and facilities for athletes, officials, media and spectators, both local and international, we aim to have the best event possible. "None of this would have been possible without the support and care of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, and His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Heir Apparent of Qatar." With the selection of the hosts of the 2019 IAAF World Championships taking place in 2014, the excellent organisation of the Doha event is making strong credentials for a candidacy; something Al Hamad confirmed could be on the cards.(QNA)