The 2013 World Athletics Championships

The 14th World Championships in Athletics starts this weekend in Moscow, Russia. The biennial event gets underway on 10th August and continues till 18th August. 1974 athletes from 206 countries are going to take part in this event which is considered the most prestigious event in Athletics after the Olympics.

The Indian contingent for this mega event comprises of 15 athletes including 8 women for walking, 4X400m relay, discuss throw, triple jump and 3000m steeplechase and all eyes will be on the women’s 4X400m relay team is do well.

Ahead of the premier Athletics Championships, however, several controversies have cropped up. Along with poor ticket sales, some serious issues like the growing international outrage over new Russian laws that discriminate against gay people, and the heightened public cynicism over a new spate of positive drug tests—including dozens from the host country—have dominated the news.

Host of big stars will be missing from the event. Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell Brown are some big profile names who will be missing because of their failed drug tests. Usain Bolt’s biggest contender Yohan Blake will miss the event due to a hamstring injury. 800-metre world record holder David Rudisha and reigning Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill are some of the other big stars missing due to injuries.

However the world will eagerly wait to witness the thunderbolt as Usain Bolt, arguably one of the greatest athletes of all time, takes centre stage. Along with him all eyes will be on reigning Olympic 400-m champion Kirani James of Grenada, the man destined to break Michael Johnson’s long standing 400 metre world record, Olympics double gold medallist Mo Farah and the hottest prospect in world athletics, high jumper Bohdan Bondarenko of Ukraine. Also the greatest woman pole vaulter of all time, Yelena Isinbayeva is going to retire after the World Championships.
With the controversies looming large and athletics at its low point due to widespread doping scandals, everyone will be hoping for a clean and successful World Championships for the well being of Athletics and Sports as a whole.