The IAAF Diamond League, which aims to change the structure of elite athletics meetings in Europe and the rest of the world, has been launched.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will give Europe a central role (10 out of 14 meetings will be held on the continent) and will bring about greater responsibilities and opportunities for the continental federations to develop and enhance their own series of top level one-day meetings.

Indeed, the launch has encouraged European Athletics to build on its own Premium and Classic Meetings brands.

José Luis de Carlos, first vice president of European Athletics, said: "We have to work hard to develop and integrate what I call the 'pyramid', that is with the Diamond League on top, then the IAAF World Challenge meetings, then the European Athletics Premium and Classic Meetings.

"In the past, if you were a 100m or 1,500m runner, you had quite a lot of opportunities to compete. It wasn't the same if you competed in, let's say, the women's 3,000m steeplechase or the men's discus.

"Now, with the new system that his been adopted by the IAAF and European Athletics meetings, we are offering more possibilities to Europe's leading athletes in every discipline."