IAAF President Lamine Diack gave the following speech to the assembled dignitaries, local officials, sports personalities and media at the ‘one-year countdown ceremony in Beijing on Friday (22).

The USA had endured a low-key first couple of days in the stunning Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre Stadium at the Youth Olympic Games but roared back with a much improved display on Friday (22).

The provisional entry lists are now available for the 12th meeting of the 2014 season of the IAAF Diamond League in Birmingham on 24 August.

Amid euphoric scenes more typically reserved for pop and rock icons, a six-day project to showcase the IAAF Kids Athletics programme was launched today at Wanda Plaza in downtown Nanjing, host city of the Youth Olympic Games.

To illustrate the relevancy and strength of the fledgling Youth Olympic Games, all we need to do is check out the athletics roll of honour from the inaugural edition in Singapore four years ago.

The athletics programme of the 2nd Youth Olympic Games begins today (20) in Nanjing. The IAAF website will provide results, daily reports and pictures.