2,000 athletes compete for honours as World Athletics Championships begins in Doha

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) says about 2, 000 athletes from 209 nations, including Nigeria, have converged on Doha in Qatar for the 17th edition of its biennial global competition which began on Friday.

The association said on its website on Friday that athletes would compete in 49 events over a period of 10 days at the renovated multi-purpose Khalifa International Stadium.

The events comprise 24 each for men and women, plus a mixed relay, while there will also be 43 track and field events, four race walking and two marathon road running events.

The organisers said it was the first edition of the competition under its rebranded name, having previously been known as the World Championships in Athletics.

It also said that it would be the first time the competition was being held in the Middle East, and the first time it has not been held in August.

“Due to the hot climate, there will be no morning sessions and events will be held in the late afternoon onward. Long-distance road events are scheduled to start around midnight local time.

“For the first time, sponsors of national teams will be permitted to appear on the kit that the athletes compete in,” IAAF said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a 25-member team, consisting of athletes and coaches who will represent the country at the championships, left Nigeria on Tuesday.

The team is made up of the 100m and 200m NCAA double champion, Divine Oduduru, African Games gold medalist Raymond Ekhevwo and Blessing Okagbare.

Okagbare, however, will be the country’s sole representative in the women’s 100m and 200m events.

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To compete for the men’s 100m event are Divine Oduduru, Ekhevwo and Itsekiri Usheoritse, while Emmanuel Arowolo will join Oduduru in the men’s 200m event. (NAN)