PARIS, France (AFP) — Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt and Chinese star hurdler Liu Xiang will headline the Shanghai meet of the IAAF Diamond League circuit on May 23, organisers announced yesterday.

The outing will be the first on the newly-launched 14-meet Diamond League for Bolt, the world and Olympic 100m and 200m champion, and world record holder in each event (9.58 and 19.19sec, respectively).

The track in Shanghai is already proven to be quick with 9.69 and 10.64sec the winning times in last year’s men’s and women’s 100m sprints.

It will also be a first outdoor appearance for Liu, the 2004 Olympic and 2007 World champion at 110m hurdles.

“I am very excited that so many world-class athletes will come to China and my hometown Shanghai to participate in the IAAF Diamond League,” said Liu.

“We will do our best to give outstanding performances for local and global track and field fans.”

The Diamond League gets under way on May 14 in Doha and culminates in Brussels on August 27.