BBC SPORT | WORLD INDOOR ATHLETICS | Cram looks forward to Lisbon

BBC Sport's Steve Cram looks ahead to the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Lisbon.

Over the last four or five years the World Indoors have become more and more significant.

But because the Olympics finished so late last year, we're going to find that quite a few of the big names we might hope to see won't make the trip.

That's not to denigrate the Championships - it's simply a reflection of the fact that the outdoor season is so much more important to most athletes, and preparation for that takes priority.

What you will see is those athletes who love competing indoors - because it suits their style or their training programme - going flat out for the title of indoor world champion.

Szabo will start as hot favourite for the 3000m
Not a great deal is known about the track in Portugal.

It's not one that is used on the usual indoor circuit every year so for the majority it'll be the first time they've competed there.

As an athlete you want a good crowd and a big atmosphere, and I'm told that the Portuguese are very into the championships.

The city is football-mad, as I know from trips out there to see Sporting Lisbon - but they're also very proud to be hosting these championships.

Even athletes of the quality of Gabi Szabo, wonderfully talented individuals who are capable of running well under any conditions, will be lifted if the stands are packed and the spectators passionate.

Jonathan Edwards is a hot favourite for triple-jump gold, and with good reason

Steve Cram

The thing I like about the indoors - which is ironic considering my background - is the sprint events.

The distance events don't always live up to expectation, partly because you're never sure who's going to be there.

But the sprints are unpredictable for a different reason - the 60m simply because the race is so short, and the 200m because of the banked bends.

With the distance events you can pretty much say - yup, Szabo will take the 3000m, Noah Ngeny should win at 1500m and Yuriy Borzakowski should win the 800m.

Daniel Caines
The Worlds are a big test for Caines
You can't be anywhere near as sure in the sprints.

The British interest in these events is strong too, with both Christian Malcolm in the 200m and Danny Caines in the 400m having run the fastest times in the world this year.

Sure the Americans will bring over some real talent, and both the guys will have to run even faster than they have already.

But Britain shouldn't leave the city empty-handed. Jonathan Edwards is a hot favourite for triple-jump gold, and with good reason.

He has both form and permanent class on his side.

Personally speaking, it's going to be hard work.

Three days in Lisbon? In March? I think I can handle it.


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