IAAF changes Golden League again

The Golden League format will change again for next summer as athletics’ governing body tries to increase the popular appeal of the sport.

Athletes will now have to remain unbeaten to grab a share of the total jackpot of US$1m - a return to the format used from 2003 to 2005.

Some events - including the men’s 400m - have been dropped from the schedules.

IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said: “It’s all about media impact - a lot of people couldn’t grasp the 2006 format.”

If none of the athletes from the 10 disciplines manage to finish the series unbeaten, the IAAF will share out US$500,000 between the athletes who win five of the six meetings.

The 110m hurdles and triple jump replace the 400m, the 3000m/5000m and the long jump, while in the women’s events the pole vault will replace the 3000/5000m.

In 2006, US$500,000 was shared by athletes who won all six of their events.

The other US$500,000 was distributed among the same athletes and those who had only been beaten once.

Jamaica’s 100m world record holder Asafa Powell finished with US$250,000 dollars, as did American 400m stars Sanya Richards and Jeremy Wariner.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/6215910.stm