Diamond League Betting

Founded in 1912 by 17 national athletic federations, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) was originally created to provide a central governing authority for amateur athletics. In 2001, the organisation rededicated itself to professional athletics as well as the amateur level, and today it represents 212 athletic federations from its headquarters in Monaco.

Among the IAAF’s responsibilities are the establishment of international athletic programmes and the standardization of technical equipment. The IAAF also certifies world records and promotes interest in athletic activities around the globe.

One of the latest undertakings of the IAAF has been the creation of an annual series of track and field meetings called the Diamond League, which ensures that the world’s best and most recognised athletes compete against each other regularly. Launched in 2010, it comprises 32 event disciplines, 16 each for men and women, including nine running events plus high jump, long jump, triple jump, discus, javelin, shot put and pole vault.

Each season of 14 meetings kicks off in Doha, Qatar in May and extends over the summer through the final gathering in Brussels, Belgium in September. The 32 disciplines have been divided across the various venues so that each one is staged seven times. One exception is the London Grand Prix in July or August, when 27 disciplines are conducted on two days that count as a single meeting.

The athletes compete to win not only the individual events, but also to amass points that count toward placement in the season’s “Diamond Race.” The highest point getter in each discipline wins a $40,000 cash prize along with a singular Diamond Trophy and the unchallenged honour of being known as the World Number 1 in her or her specialty.

Points are awarded only to the top three finishers in each stage of each event as follows: 4 points for first, 2 points for second and 1 point for third. Additionally, double points can be earned at the Final of each discipline, held in either Zurich in August or Brussels in September, depending on where the seventh and last event occurs on the schedule.

Although a perfect score would be 32 points for winning all seven stages, typically half that total is sufficient to win the Diamond Race. In 2011, for example, 100-meter specialist American Tyson Gay claimed the “world’s fastest man” title with 16 points that included three first place finishes. The only Double Diamond winner in 2011 was Allyson Felix of the United States, who took the 200-meter crown with 22 points and the 400-meter title with 20 points.

There are no team honours in the Diamond League. Athletes compete as individuals, not as country representatives, a fact that has prevented the inclusion of any relay events in the schedule. On the other hand, it means superstars from smaller nations can participate on an even footing, rather than against the resources of a large national team.

Now entering its third season in 2012, the Diamond League has picked up an overall title sponsor, Samsung, the Korean electronics and industrial manufacturing conglomerate. The 14 meetings also have their own local sponsors, such as Aviva for the London leg, Adidas in New York and Exxon-Mobil in Oslo, to name a few.

Betting on the Diamond League has gained tremendous momentum in just two seasons. Wagers can be made on individual contestants in each of the meetings or on specific individuals to emerge as the Diamond Race winners at the end of the season. There are opportunities to bet on world records to bet, specific times to beat and points totals to be achieved. Almost all major bookmakers feature the Diamond League highly in their athletics category, and many now showcase events as part of their in-running markets, too.

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