November 6, 2007 at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Akihito, assisted by Yasuo Fukuda, the Prime Minister of Japan, bestowed the Grand Cordon of the order of the rising sun upon IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) President Diack. President Diack was awarded with Grand Cordon “in honor of his outstanding contribution to the diffusion and progress of the sports as well as to the successful realization of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Osaka 2007”.