Event organiser Wilfried Meert proved more than satisfied with 34th Belgacom Memorial Van Damme. "Pity that the temperature wasn't like five degrees higher, because it would have upped some powerful performances even more."

"Tyson Gay could have knocked off a few hundredths off his 9.79 and Blanka Vlasic might have jumped a few centimeters higher. And maybe then Andreas Thorkildsen breaks the 90 meters threshold at the javelin."

"Because both Zürich and Brussels were the final of the Diamond League, I knew that records were not going to be likely here. David Rudisha for instance wanted to win 800m against Abubaker Kaki and take the diamonds. In the end, that was the intention of the new concept. Preferably aiming at fabulous duels between the best athletes in each discipline. And it worked out really well. Even the shot put could captivate the audience's attention with an impressive 22.16 meters by Reese Hoffa."

We still had a world record, in the women's 3000m steeple, but then for juniors with the 9.22.51 by Almaz Ayana.

"Adding to that, the Frenchman Mekhissi Benabbad missed out on the European record in the steeplechase with little over a second. The Belgians performed well too. The Borlée brothers and even sister Olivia received a great applause, just like Svetlana Bolshakova. Michael Bultheel improved his personal best at the 400m hurdles in 49.38, as did Wout Verhoeven with his 10.58 at the 100m. Kristof Van Malderen was excellent at 1500m, Wilfried Meert summarised.

In the next few days, we will have to assess how the Diamond League will evolve. "After the Continental Cup in Split, we will evaluate the concept and perhaps refine some of its elements."