Doha, Qatar - The official pre-meeting press conference for the Doha Diamond League meeting was held today at the Sheraton Doha.

Present were IAAF President Lamine Diack, Qatari Olympic Committee General Secretary H.E. Sheik Saoud Din Abdulrahman Al Thani, and QAAF President Abdula Ahmad Al Zaini. The athletes present were Lolo Jones (USA), Samuel Francis (QAT), Allyson Felix (USA), Blanka Vlasic (CRO), Asafa Powell (JAM), Joseph Ebuya (KEN) and Barbora Spotakova (CZE).

Athletes and dignitaries alike shared their thoughts on the inaugural IAAF Diamond League, a 14-meeting series in which the world’s best athletes will embark on a season-long Diamond Race which will be contested in 32 events. The winner of each of the 32 Diamond Races will receive a 40,000 USD cash prize and a spectacular Diamond Trophy created by Beyer, one of the oldest and most respected jewellers in the world, which was established in Zürich in the 18th century. Additionally Prize Money of 450,000 USD will be on offer at each meeting.

Some of the press conference highlights:

IAAF President Lamine Diack, who arrived in Doha at 3am Thursday, flying directly from Zambia:

The IAAF has invested considerable human and financial resources because we feel it is an outstanding opportunity to work with meeting organisers and athletes to create a better future for IAAF.

This new circuit will allow us to really promote athletics – not just in Europe – between May and September. We also believe that the Diamond League allows us to support the Olympics and World Championships as well, and not threaten them, which is why it was so important for the IAAF to be a key part of the Diamond League system.  

There is a fantastic start list for Doha – even though we sadly lost Yelena Isinbayeva, Kenenisa Bekele and Sanya Richards-Ross, three of our Ambassadors. Many events will be like the Berlin World Championship finals again. I am delighted that our friends in Doha have put together such a strong meeting, which I believe is far better than any “first meeting” of the Golden League circuit in the past.

Qatari Olympic Committee General Secretary H.E. Sheik Saoud Din Abdulrahman Al Thani:

We are delighted and honored to have our capital launch the first Diamond League, the new way the sport will be viewed and appreciated by out countries. We will do out utmost to ensure that this will be a success not only at tomorrow's first meeting, but to develop it and look forward to make sure that it becomes better and better.

Lolo Jone (USA), two-time World indoor 60m Hurdles champion

I'm really curious to see what I'll run when I have the elite of the elite in the race.

Samuel Francis (QAT), Asian record holder, 100m

A couple of weeks ago I had a small injury and I'm just recovering from it. So I don't know what to expect, but I think I'm going to run fast.

Allyson Felix (USA), three-time World 200m champion, who will be competing in the 400m

I want to run a few more 400s than I have before and get more consistent. I've always opened my season in Doha and being that it's an off-year, I decided to run an event in which I need improvement in. It's a really competitive field, so we'll just see how fast we can run.

Blanka Vlasic (CRO), two-time World indoor and World outdoor High Jump champion

It's very hard to say (how I'll do), but you never know. I'm just happy to be here, to be healthy, and to hopefully start well here again as in the past.

Since the World Indoor Championships I have had another five weeks of training, but this was mostly just for final touches after my long training in the winter.

Asafa Powell (JAM), former World record holder and twice World championships bronze medallist, 100m

I'm in pretty good shape, I think. I have no idea what I can give, but I'll do my best.

“It is a bit hotter than Jamaica but I think I can manage.”

Joseph Ebuya (KEN), reigning World Cross Country champion

I know everybody is very strong. My expectations are to run under 12:50. I'm ready and I'm prepared. Since winning the World Cross Country, I've been training and I have strong expectations.

Barbora Spotakova (CZE), Olympic champion and World record holder, Javelin Throw

I'm kind of excited, because my first competition is usually in a small meet in Czech Republic but this time it's in Doha in a very big meet with all the favorites here. So it will be a very good competition. But I can also say that I'm a little bit nervous because I don't know what to expect because I've had a little problem with my achilles over the past two weeks. But all the preparation went really well.

Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

NOTE: Additional news and quotes from today's press conference can be read on the Doha Diamond League Website at: http://www.diamondleague-doha.com/Home/