World Championship Athletics coverage on Channel 4

[jctg]

is bloody rubbish. The host (whoever he is) has just referred to the "men's 100m hurdles". Is that a new event? Why can't athletics coverage be left to the BBC? As somebody just wrote on twitter it's like watching Eastenders on ITV. Apart from the racing Channel 4 cannot do sport. Did whoever brokered this deal with Channel 4 know how crap at covering sport they were?

[red devil]

I agree, T4 would have done it so much better, a sort of 4 hour RnB fest of grinding groins and batties, whilst Dave could have had exclusive rights to show the action replays...

[KidKruger]

Yes the coverage was pretty weak.

I was surprised to learn that the crackdown on false starts (disqualifications) is driven by the need for the events schedule to run on time so it doesn't interfere with TV programming.

You used to get a couple of chances with alas starts now there's none.

Shame, as that's always been part of athletics.

[new mother]

I thought bolt's fs lOoked very suspicious. Christine O also had one and reacted exactly as I would have expected an athlete to- looking guilty and hoping she wasn't caught for it. Bolt tore his vest off and screamed to high heaven, "it was me!"

no idea why anyone would do this but he acted as if he wanted to be disqualified. Cannot see the logic myself.

[KidKruger]

When you're on that starting line and set you're seriously pumped, anything can set you off, you're looking for ANY external stimulus to signal the start, you can't afford to miss the trigger when it goes off.

I think it's natural to be overly reactive in these circumstances so the penalties are now unreasonable.

They're talking now on BBC that Usain may have responded to an involuntary flinch by his team-mate in the adjacent lane, if this is the case then he responded naturally. If we want the benefit of such incredible performances and times then we can't impose such draconian DQs at the starting point. There were probably dozens of athletes who never made it to subsequent heats or other finals, Bolt bring just the most prominent.

[Ladygooner]

Watched the highlights last night and they didn't even put up the list of runners before showing the heats of the 100m mens. Just a jumble of raes. Very poor!

Re false start rule - apparently it was put in because some athletes were deliberately false starting when they had another chance to unsettle their opponents. In swimming they have the same rule - one false start and you are out - and they seem to manage ok?

[new mother]

Continues to be appalling commentary.

Heard today that Jessica Ennis was "really sprinting", in the 110m h. Groan.

But was thrilled for her. She comes across as a very level headed genuinely nice girl.

[maxxi]

Kiddy tv presenter replaced by presenter of Ch4's 'Tool Academy' - puns on a postcard please to...

Great runs by Dai Greene and Hannah England.

[Help-Ma-Boab]

Makes for hard watching

[KidKruger]

Oh dear how weak, it's almost like DeLoittes using a client site to train-up their new intake for the year.

Taking the p!ss.

[Annette Curtain]

Basically it was pretty appalling.

I felt for Dwain Chambers.

http://img.skysports.com/11/08/660x350/dwainchambers_2642255.jpg

I know he's nearly finished his chequered career but I do admire his perseverance.

N:(

[Cassius]

He seems to have been taken off the air - maybe not having an auto cue was too much for him.