IAAF plans feeder events for elite series

"The dream scenario is to have the Diamond League and then area grand prix," International Association of Athletics Federations spokesman Nick Davies told Reuters on Wednesday. "This pool of meetings is to have a transition system to feed into the Diamond League," he said, adding the plan is to have promotion to and relegation from the elite competition.

The IAAF has created the Diamond League which will include 14 meetings in Europe, the United States, China and the Middle East when it is launched next year.

Its predecessor, the Golden League, consists this year of just six meetings only in Europe. Germany, was the most notable absentee from the Diamond League schedule.