BBC Sport

The Diamond League season begins in Xiamen as some of the world’s best athletes begin to gear up for Paris 2024.

With this summer’s Olympics in Paris fast approaching, track and field competitors will contend with a hectic schedule, with the first ten Diamond League events of the 2024 season scheduled before the Olympic Games.

The standout names in action in Xiamen include Team USA's Sha’Carri Richardson. Richardson comes into this event as a multiple time world champion, following her gold medals in the 100m and 4x100m relay events in the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

She will kick off her individual season in the women’s 200m, while Fred Kerley and Christian Coleman are two of Team USA's men’s sprint stars hoping for 100m success.

Away from the track, Armand Duplantis is the standout name as the Swedish star will be competing in the Men's Pole Vault. Duplantis comes into Xiamen following gold medals at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest and the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow earlier this year.

Team GB will also be represented in Xiamen, with Ethan Hussey set to feature in the 800m event. Hussey has achieved silver and gold medal success at under-23 and under-20 levels respectively, and will be hoping to do the same in Paris 2024.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC iPlayer

The BBC brings you live coverage of the first Diamond League event of the 2024 season, emanating from the impressive Egret Stadium in the Chinese City of Xiamen. Track and field athletes will be looking to build momentum with Paris 2024 fast approaching this summer.

Saturday 20th April

12:00 - 14:00 BST - Coverage available via BBC Red Button, BBC IPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

Get Inspired
#GetInspired

Athletics contain a wide variety of different activities which you can participate in. These include:

Sprint Races

Includes the short, sharp 100m and 200m. Sprint hurdles (100m for women, 110m for men) adds having to clear a number of barriers, to the powerful running. There's also the one-lap 400m race and the 400m hurdles.

Middle Distance Running

Middle distance running develops stamina and steady pacing - go for a run with some friends and you'll soon see a difference in your fitness levels.

In the 800m runners sustain their pace around two laps of the track. In the 1500m and 3,000m it's more tactical, to ensure you can get round without fading at the end.

Long Distance Running

There are lots of opportunities to take part in 10k races, half marathons and marathons every year, take a look on the Run Britain,, external website for more.

It requires stamina and some mental strength, too. On the track, it's 5,000m and 10,000m while the 26.2 miles of the marathon is a massive test of mental and physical endurance.

For those who considering running a group activity, Parkrun,, external is free to enter and welcomes everyone from beginners to Olympians in a 5k run, or 2k for juniors.

RunTogether,, external is also available offering supportive and inclusive opportunities for everyone of every level.

Throwing Events

Throwing needs good upper-body strength combined with balance, technique and strong legs and core. Put all that together to propel the shot put, javelin, discus or hammer as far as you can.

Your local club,, external will be able to provide you with any specialist equipment to give the events a try.

Jumping Events

Jumping comes in long jump, triple jump, high jump, and the pole vault. Long and triple develop strength and speed while high jump needs flexibility to clear the bar.

Decathlons & Heptathlons

Decathlon (men) consists of 10 events and heptathlon (women) seven. Both really test your endurance and skills. You'll need stamina, strength and technique to score as many points as possible over a multi-day competition.