Usain Bolt coming to Diamond League in Stockholm

Photo: eviltomthai, CC-licensed

Since its inception in 1967, DN Galan has been one of Sweden's leading sports events. On August 6, it's time again at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium. The Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN) is the title sponsor of the competition, which is part of the new Diamond League athletic series that began on May 14 in Doha and will conclude on August 27 in Brussels. Fourteen cities are hosting the series, including New York.

Yesterday it became official that Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt will participate in DN Galan. Thus, Bolt, his countryman Asafa Powell (update: Asafa Powell has unfortunately cancelled his participation in the gala) and American Tyson Gay will determine who is fastest in the 100-meter, something that has garnered attention both in the media (DN, New York Times, Torontosun and BBC among others) and on Twitter. The running stars' Facebook pages were flooded with comments and Tyson Gay himself twittered the news: "Yep. It is true. Asafa, Usain, me and others are heading to the Diamond League in Stockholm."

The day before DN Galan, the shot put competition Big Shot will be held in Kungsträdgården park in central Stockholm. Big Shot is also part of the Diamond League, which attracts many of the world's elite to the competition.