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Diamond League opener in Qatar pushed back due to conflict in Gulf

Athletes compete in the women's 5000m final race during the IAAF Diamond League competition on May 10, 2024 at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium in the Qatari capital Doha.
The 2024 women's 5000m final race during the IAAF Diamond League competition at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha

The opening round of the Diamond League season, scheduled to take place in the Qatari ⁠capital of Doha on 8 May, has been postponed until 19 June because of the ongoing conflict in the Gulf, organisers said on Wednesday.

The track and field meeting is the latest top sporting event to be disrupted in the country since ‌the US ⁠and Israel launched air attacks on Iran, and the Islamic Republic responded by firing missiles at neighbouring states.

"In the interests of athlete and spectator safety, a decision has now ‌been taken to postpone the meeting. Should conditions allow, it will now ⁠be held on June 19," the ‌event's organisers said in a statement.

"As temperatures are expected ⁠to ‌be higher in Doha in June, the meeting will also be moved from the Qatar Sports Club to the ⁠Khalifa International Stadium. The stadium... is temperature-regulated."

The Qatar MotoGP ⁠race and the opening leg of the sports car World Endurance Championship have been postponed, and the "Finalissima" soccer match between Spain and Argentina scheduled for Doha was cancelled.

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