Fast times, big crowds as worlds return to Europe

LONDON : Forty years after its first edition, the world athletics championships get underway in Budapest on Saturday with over 2,000 athletes from 202 countries taking part over nine days of what could be record-breaking action.

Launched initially as a four-yearly event at great pains not to undermine the Olympics, the championships switched to biennial in 1993 and, thanks to COVID, this time take place for a second consecutive year following the 2022 event in Eugene in the United States.

Poor crowds and low TV audiences undermined the impact of the first hosting in the sport's powerhouse nation 12 months ago and, coming on the back of the sea of empty seats at Doha 2019, officials will hope the return to the sport's European heartland will give it a big lift a year out from the Paris Olympics.

Hungary itself has a woeful world championship record, having never won a gold medal. It has claimed seven silver and seven bronze - half of them coming in the hammer throw.

However, World Athletics says ticket sales have been "strong" and the purpose-built 30,000-capacity stadium, which boasts the same bouncy Mondo track that contributed to so many fast times in Tokyo.

The fans should be in for top-quality action, with WA president Sebastian Coe saying the record-laden first half of the season points to potentially "the best world championships performance-wise of all time".

Top of the bill on the back of three world records this summer is Kenyan superstar Faith Kipyegon. Still only 29, she is appearing in her sixth world championships seeking a third gold to add to two Olympic 1,500 metres titles.

In the women's sprints, American Sha'Carri Richardson will hope to make a belated entrance onto the global stage after missing the 2021