Eamonn Sweeney: 'Pig of a sport rotting in hell on earth'

Tiers of empty seats have been a constant backdrop at the World Athletics Championships in Doha. Photo: Andrej Isakovic

Eamonn Sweeney

The World Athletics Championships are the championships from hell. You can see a once great sport rotting up there on the screen as different factors combine to produce a perfect shitstorm.

Problem number one is the location. Their siting in Doha has proved a gross insult to athletes on two levels. From a physical point of view you had the carnage of a women's marathon where only 40 of the 68 starters finished and a makeshift hospital had to be set up at the finish line with athletes being brought in on stretchers from all over the course.