Qatar Diamond League athletics meet postponed amid Middle East conflict concerns

The Doha Diamond League meet has been postponed until June (REUTERS)

The Diamond League athletics meeting in Qatar has been postponed from next month to June, "should conditions allow," amid ongoing uncertainty caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

The Doha event had been set to open the season for the elite track and field series on 8 May, as it typically has in recent years. However, its postponement means the Shanghai meet on 16 May will now commence the series instead.

"In recent weeks, the Diamond League has been monitoring the situation in Doha, working in close coordination with meeting organisers, Qatari authorities and other stakeholders," the Diamond League said in a statement on Wednesday, hours after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel.

"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 Finalissima match between Argentina and Spain in Qatar was cancelled last month (Zac Goodwin/PA) (PA Archive)

The change of date also means a change of venue. Temperatures in Qatar in June are typically higher, so the event will move to the Khalifa International Stadium, which is fitted with large cooling systems around the arena that were used when it hosted the 2019 world track and field championships.

Qatar has become a key host nation for global sports events in recent years and has had to postpone or cancel high-profile competitions since the United States and Israel began strikes on Iran in February.

The "Finalissima" football match between Argentina and Spain, which was due to be played in Qatar, was cancelled last month and Qatar's motorcycle Grand Prix was rescheduled to November.

Elsewhere in the region, Formula 1 races set for April in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been called off, leading to a five-week break in the calendar ahead of the Miami Grand Prix on 3 May.