JAPAN: Osaka warms up for the Athletics World Championships

A record number of countries are taking part in the Athletics World Championships in Osaka, and as the Japanese city prepares for the championships, the biggest challenge the athletes face could be the weather. Expectations are soaring as high as the temperatures in Osaka ahead of the Athletics World Championships starting this weekend. With only three days before the championships start, the Japanese city is getting out its flags and preparing to receive the world's top athletes. A record 203 countries are scheduled to compete according to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The world athletics governing body said the number of registered nations beat the previous high of 202 in Seville eight years ago. Just nine of the IAAF's 212 member nations failed to enter the championships in the western Japanese city of Osaka from August 25th to September 2nd. "There are lots of Japanese people are taking part, and I hope they win medals," said 17-year old student Yuki Murai. Hideki Soma has bought a ticket for the running races. "When the athletes run, the way they run is so different, I want to see how they accelerate," he said. The biggest challenge facing the athletes in Osaka however, is the weather. Experts say that temperatures in Osaka in August can reach up to 35 degrees, and the IAAF say the humidity will be 70% to 90%.

ITN Source | August 23, 2007

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