The IAAF Diamond League Doha, which began in '10 -- with Doha "getting the rights to host the traditional opening leg" -- has been "successful in attracting the world's leading athletes through appearance fees and a generous $480,000 prize fund for each leg," according to Satya Roth of the GULF TIMES. Athletes who "win the overall title in their discipline receive an extra $40,000 cash prize besides a glittering Diamond Trophy." Yet, despite its success, the series has "failed to find a title sponsor" since Samsung, which sponsored the Diamond League for the first three years, withdrew last year "owing to the global meltdown." The Doha event has "been experiencing a similar apathy" from the sponsors. Just "53 days away from the opening leg" of this year's series, "there's no sign of a title sponsor for the one-day event yet." Qatar Athletics Federation President General Dahlan al-Hamad said, "It’s very sad. Athletics is one sport that is getting us global medals, yet companies are unwilling to come forward. They are willing to sponsor other sports events where we have no global champions, nor any chance of landing medals, but not athletics. I wonder why." QAF Secretary General Mohamed al-Kuwari, who is "also the marketing head of the Doha Diamond League," said that the QAF was in "talks with many companies but nothing concrete has come out so far." Al-Kuwari: "We are trying our best to rope in some sponsors" (GULF TIMES, 3/16).
