BBC strengthens athletics portfolio with Diamond League

The BBC has acquired a new rights deal with the IAAF Diamond League.

The Diamond League is an annual series of elite track and field athletic competitions, and will complement the BBC’s existing athletics portfolio which includes the Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, European Championships and the Commonwealth Games. Alongside the London Marathon, Great North Run and Great Manchester Run plus the European and World Indoor Championships.

The four-year deal will start with live coverage from the event in Gateshead on May 23, which will be broadcast on BBC Two.

There will be 14 Diamond League meetings in total this year, which will take place at a range of locations including Doha and Zurich. The BBC said that all the events will be available live on the BBC across either network TV or BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio and BBC Red Button.

Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport said: “These events showcase the very best talent that athletics has to offer as well as the emergence of the stars of the future. In what is set to be a thrilling year for the sport, we’re delighted to bring viewers a wealth of live athletics coverage from the Diamond League.”