All eyes on Monaco and IAAF Gala

Mo Farah is the favourite to win the IAAF Male Athlete of the Year award.

Bengaluru/Monaco, November 22: The world of athletics will turns its attention to Monaco this week as the mediterranean principality is all set to host the International Association of Athletics Association's (IAAF) Annual Gala on Friday (November 24).

Nearly 80 of the world's best athletes will gather in Monaco for the Gala, the annual celebration honouring the world's best.

The 2017 list is led by British 10,000M world champion Mo Farah, South Africa's 400M star Wayde van Niekerk and Qatar's high jump star and world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim.

The women's list includes comeback queen Sally Pearson of Australia, the 100M hurdles champion, and South Africa's Caster Semenya, the winner of the 800M.

The nominees were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of the IAAF on October 3.

In addition to the announcement of the men's and women's Athletes of the Year, the recipients of the IAAF Rising Star Awards, Coaching Achievement Award, Women's Award and President's Award will also be revealed.

The ceremony will also name the winner of the inaugural Athletics Photograph of the Year competition. The 25 shortlisted images will also form part of a photography exhibition which will be held alongside the IAAF gala.

The week also includes the 212th IAAF Council Meeting which will will focus on the day-to-day business with updates from departments, commissions, working groups and taskforces. These will include the latest report from the IAAF Taskforce concerning Russia.