The Diamond League is an premier annual athletics series where elite track and field athletes compete in 15 different athletics meetings in a calendar year, including the Final meeting to choose the season's ultimate winner. The league was launched in 2010 by World Athletics, League showcases the elite performance and record breaking moments.
Here, we will know the key details of the Diamond League.
Overview of the Diamond League.
Founding year: 2010
Sports: Track and Field
Track and Field Events in Diamond League
Track Events (Men and Women):
100m
200m
400m
800m
1500m
5000m
110m hurdles (only for men)/100m hurdles (only for women)
400m hurdles
3000m steeplechase
Field Events (Men and Women):
Long Jump
Triple Jump
High Jump
Pole Vault
Shot Put
Discus Throw
Javelin Throw
Does each Diamond League meeting have all 32 disciplines (16+16 events)?
No, only the Diamond League Final has all 32 disciplines (16 men’s + 16 women’s events). In the other 14 Diamond League meetings, there are usually between 13 and 16 disciplines in total.
Qualifications for athletes in each Diamond League meeting (excluding the Final)
World Athletics Rankings-based
Invitation-based
Recent performances in major competitions (e.g., Olympics, World Championships)
Previous Diamond League results
Wildcards granted by the meeting organizer (to promote local talents)
Diamond League meeting: Ranking based on points
In each event of the Diamond League meeting, athletes can earn points based on their performances. However, only Diamond League-designated disciplines in each meeting count for points (not all events are part of the Diamond League program at every stop). The ranking-based points have been given below.
1st - 8 points
2nd - 7 points
3rd - 6 points
4th - 5 points
5th - 4 points
6th - 3 points
7th - 2 points
8th - 1 point
Special addition since the Diamond League 2025
From the Diamond League 2025, each league meeting can have four “Diamond+ Disciplines”, two for male events and two for female events, and the events can be different for male and female. These will offer a higher level of prize money, as the individual athletes’ prize money increases from $10,000 to $20,000.
Qualifications for athletes in the Diamond League Final
At the end of 14 Diamond League meetings, the highest point scorers qualify for the Annual Diamond League Final. There are different numbers of qualifications for various events in the Diamond League Final.
Hurdles: Top 6 athletes in each event
Sprints (100m - 800m): Top 8 athletes in each event
Field Events (Jumps + Throws): Top 8 athletes in each event
Distances (1500m, 3000m steeplechase, and 5000m): Top 10 athletes in each event
*Special Notes*
The athletes have been chosen based on their best performances and placements in case of a tie.
For special cases, World Athletics or local organisers can set up Wildcard entries for the Diamond League Final.
Diamond League Final
It is a fresh event where the winner of the Final becomes the Diamond League Champion of the Year. The winner earns:
Diamond Trophy
Cash Prize
Automatic wildcard entry to the World Athletics Championships (if their national federation agrees)
