Athletics World Championships get under way in Osaka
Marathon runners Janne Holmén and Francis Kirwa in action tonight
The 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics will get under way in Osaka in the early hours of Saturday morning, when the men line up for the marathon, an event that more traditionally is slotted into the final day of major competitions.
Two of the small Finnish contingent in Japan will be in action - Janne Holmén and Francis Kirwa. Holmén sprang a huge surprise to win at the European Championships in Munich five years ago, and he was 7th in Gothenburg last year, but much will depend on how he can cope with the expected heat of Japan in August. On Thursday the afternoon temperatures were well over 30°C and the conditions were extremely humid.
Also competing on the first day will be the Finnish shot-putters Robert Häggblom and Mika Vasara, and on the women's side heptathlete Salla Rinne starts her two-day competition with the 100 metres hurdles and the high jump.
Rinne is not expected to figure among the medallists, but it would be good if she can break through 6,000 points and keep her eyes on next year and the Beijing Olympics.
Finland has sent a small team of 15 men and nine women to Osaka. Among the women, seven will be taking part in individual events, and the 4 x 100 metres relay team will also line up.
The greatest medal hopes rest on the shoulders of Tero Pitkämäki in the men's javelin. He has been the most consistent thrower in the world all season, and if he were to fall short of a medal of some description it would doubtless be a big blow to the team.
Frantz Kruger, who has only recently been granted permission to represent his new country, is another who could step up to the podium if all goes according to plan. A third thrower who might bring home some silverware is Olli-Pekka Karjalainen in the men's hammer. Karjalainen took silver at last year's European Championships in Gothenburg, but he has not shown much of that form this year.
The Finns are without their only European Champion in Jukka Keskisalo. The 3,000 metres steeplechase winner injured his hamstring in June and will be in Osaka only in spirit, commenting on the games for Helsingin Sanomat.
Another who is out of contention is long-jumper Tommi Evilä, who took Finland's only medal at the Helsinki World Championships two years ago.
The World Championships continue from August 25th to September 2nd. There will be extensive coverage on YLE TV. The marathon starts at 01:00 Finnish time on Saturday morning.
Ticket sales in Osaka have so far been rather disappointing, but a good result in the marathon - where Japanese runners have traditionally been strong - could change all that.
More on this subject:
 UPDATED SATURDAY: Janne Holmén 9th in World Championships marathon
Previously in HS International Edition:
Naturalised discus-thrower permitted to represent Finland at Athletics World Championships (21.8.2007)
An article on Janne Holmén from 2002
Links:
11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Osaka
Finnish Athletics
Helsingin Sanomat
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