BBC Takes Uk Athletics to Court

Ahead of the last London athletics grand prix before it becomes part of the planned Diamond League, an ongoing legal dispute between UK Athletics and the BBC's commercial arm is threatening to complicate plans for the new "Champions League of athletics".

It has emerged that BBC Worldwide filed a claim on 9 April against UK Athletics and is still waiting for a high court date. It relates to the fact that BBC Worldwide held the international rights to the London and British grands prix under a deal with UK Athletics that runs until 2014. It subsequently sold on the rights to sell the footage around the world to IEC in Sports, a Stockholm-based agency. But under the plans for the Diamond League, a series of at least 12 international meetings designed to give the season a more compelling narrative, rival agency IMG will market the international rights.

Discussions between lawyers for the two sides are believed to be continuing while the wait for a court date goes on, with UK Athletics still understood to be hopeful of a negotiated settlement. BBC Worldwide and UK Athletics refused to comment.