IAAF president Coe elected chairman of Diamond League

Berlin, Dec. 1, (GNA/dpa) - Sebastian Coe, President of the athletics governing body THE International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), has been elected as chairman of the board of the Diamond League series of meetings.

"IAAF president Sebastian Coe and fellow IAAF council member Anna Riccardi were unanimously elected by the general assembly on Sunday to become board members of the Diamond League AG, the company which owns and operates the IAAF Diamond League," the IAAF said Tuesday.

Coe becomes chairman with Italian administrator Riccardi the second of three IAAF representatives on the six-person Diamond League board.

The Diamond League is the premier series of meetings for elite athletes but has recently been criticized for its difficulty to follow format and dwindling attendances.

"The IAAF Diamond League annually provides athletics with a prominent global shop window," Coe said in a statement.

"The 14 meeting series, which runs from May to September, offers fans the best international athletics competition outside the IAAF World Championships and the Olympic Games."

Coe was elected IAAF president in August but has since come under fire for only belatedly ending his role as a Nike ambassador and for his handling of the corruption charges and allegations of doping that have plagued the sport.

But two-time Olympic 1,500 metre champion may now relish being in position to create change on the track and field rather than fighting battles in offices and in the media.

"I am really looking forward to reviewing this top product with the meeting organisers, who are our close partners in this series," he said.

"Together we intend to take this popular invitational tour to the next level of sporting excellence and entertainment."

GNA