TOKYO: A super-fast new track could see records tumble at this year’s world athletics championships, organisers said yesterday.
Track and field’s governing body IAAF announced midweek that this year’s total prize money in Osaka would be US$7.19mil with a bonus of US$100,000 for every world record broken.
“The prize money on offer is the same amount as it was in Helsinki,” Japanese organising committee spokesman Yukishige Koto said, referring to the 2005 world championships.
“But the track is extremely fast so we do have high expectations of world records, especially in the 100 and 200 metres.
“If (world record holder) Asafa Powell competes I think we could see a new world record in the 100m. If an athlete can set a world record they get a nice bonus of course!”
The championships take place from Aug 25 to Sept 2. – Reuters