IAAF World Championships in Athletics Live

It's the 12^th year for the World Championships in Athletics, put on by the International Association of Athletics and this bi-annual event has nine days that are jam packed full of athletics events, everything from Steeplechases to Dashes and even High Jump events.

The very first competition was in 1983, although the idea of an athletics competition can be officially traced back to 1913, when the IAAF made a decision that would allow the Olympic Games to serve as the World Championship for athletic events. Until around 1960 this was the norm, until athletes decided they wanted their own competition separate from the Olympics.

The event has grown over the years so that in 1983 had around 1300 athletes from over 154 different countries. This year the tournament will be held in Berlin, Germany, from August 15^th to the 23^rd, while Japan hosted the event last year.

 The next two locations have also been announced, with the 2011 tournament taking place in South Korea and 2013 in Moscow, Russia. The United States has been able to come out top in this competition, taking home 110 gold medals, 60 silver and 58 bronze. Their closest competitor, Russia, only has 33 gold medals, a nd a total medal count of 119 to the United States' 228.

Day One of the competition, August 15^th, and the events include the Shot Put for Men, the Women's 100 Meter Hurdles, as well as three other weomen's event, the 3000 Meter Steeplechase, the high jump and triple jump, and then the men's 100 meter heats.

The Shot Put has a final later on that day, as well as the finals for the 20 kilometer walk and the women's 10,000 meter. Get your membership to watch all nine days of this event, with nearly 50 different competitions played over a period of nine days, August 15^th to the 23^rd, 2009.