The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007. 200 of the IAAF's 212 member federations entered a total of 1,978 athletes, the greatest number of competitors at any World Championships to date. Sarah Brightman, the world's best-selling soprano, performed her single Running at the opening ceremony.
From opening ceremony
110 m hurdles heat in the men's decathlon
Japanese athlete is carried away after the 50 km walk.
American women's 4 × 400 m relay team celebrate.
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15 to 23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate.
Olympiastadion hosting the 1936 Summer Olympics
The Olympiastadion with its new blue race track
Image: Berliner Olympiastadion night crop