The outdoor athletics season gets under way proper on Friday wh­en the Qatar Sports Club hosts the first leg of the prestigious 14-meet Diam­o­nd League, with all eyes on this summer’s Olympic Games in London. Jamaican sprint star Us­ain Bolt will be absent, how­ever, hav­ing preferred to make his season debut on home soil last weekend and Eur­o­pean bow in Ostrava, Cze­ch Republic, later this month. But a top-quality field has nevertheless been ass­e­mbled for the kick-off of the global circuit be­fore the London Olympics. World 800m champion David Rudisha (left) of Kenya was in no doubt about wh­at the season had in store. “This year is an Olym­pic year and that is my main focus, my priority,” Rudisha said. “Doha is the first stepping stone towards that goal.” “Comments echoed by many of the athletes gathered in Doha where day-time temperatures are currently topping 40 degrees Celsius and organisers are hoping to attract more people into the stadium than last year’s distinctly average attendance.” Postnoon

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