It is understood that talks are progressing with another prospective title sponsor, but any announcement may be several weeks away.

Diack was speaking on the eve of the first 2013 Diamond League meeting of the season here - featuring 10 Olympic and 14 World champions, including IAAF Athlete of the Year Allyson Felix.

"Although we welcome having the extra funds from a title sponsor, the IAAF considers the series as a valuable property which is worthy of our direct investment," he said.

"So, while we are working hard to find a new partner for the circuit, it is not a question of life or death either as the financial input of a title sponsor was never crucial to the viability of the series."

Samsung are reported to have put $3.3 million (£2.1 million/€2.5 million) into the Diamond League annually since they became initial sponsors when the series launched in 2010.

"To attract a title sponsor in the first year was certainly an enormous boost for our young project, and the extension of that contract for a third year in 2012 was a further endorsement," Diack said.

"Our vision from the beginning was that we would create a new exciting product for the top tier of the sport's invitational circuit and that has been achieved, and we are confident that in the IAAF Diamond League we have a highly attractive asset."

IAAF President Lamine Diack (third left) at today's press conference in Doha

Worldwide television audience for Diamond League, he said, was "far greater than anything dreamt" by the previous Golden League.

"In 2012, Diamond League was broadcast by 98 television stations and was watched by 223 million people in 132 countries."

Diack added that Moscow, hosts of this summer's IAAF World Championships, would "confirm the success" of the London 2012 Olympics.

Doha 2013 is being billed as the best competition in the meeting's history.

Felix is joined by fellow London winners David Rudisha, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Christian Taylor and Tomasz Majewski, and will also feature local hero Mutaz Barshim, the Olympic high jump bronze medallist.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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