Mageean and Barr can inspire Irish athletes in London

Semenya, the controversial 2009 and 2011 world champion, will attempt an 800m and 1,500m double. She has the ability to suddenly inject pace into the opening heat and Mageean will need to be alert not to get burnt if the pace spikes.

The Portaferry woman gets Ireland’s campaign started in London. Although Irish athletics is on a high after Thomas Barr’s fourth place in last year’s Olympic 400m hurdles final, no one doubts the task facing the team.

Attention will turn to Barr as he gets his 400m hurdles campaign under way on Sunday morning. This year again his preparations have been stunted by a hamstring problem. The Waterford man will seek to replicate his form of 12 months ago after starting his season late due to injury.

Elsewhere, Brian Gregan has been in explosive form over 400m, an inconsistent Mark English competes in the 800m and both begin their campaigns on Saturday, aiming for passage to the semi-finals at a minimum.

Barr finished fourth in the final at the Rio Olympic Games

RYAN BYRNE/INPHO

Rob Heffernan, with a lower profile than usual, brings the curtain down on the championships next Sunday. He returns to the 50km walk, in which he won world championship gold in 2013 on a course similar to London. He frustratingly finished fourth in 2012, before being upgraded to Olympic bronze last year.

Confidence is high in the camp, particularly with the pedigree of Mageean and Barr, and the form of Gregan. Irish athletics is bubbling after Gina Apke-Moses’ European Under-20, 100-metre gold last month.

Team Ireland won three medals at the European Under-20 Championships, including nine top-eight finishes, while five more athletes won European Youth Olympic medals.

Membership numbers have grown over the last three years and there is real hope that if nurtured correctly Ireland could be on the crest of returning to the halcyon days of the 1970s and 80s.

Yet, all is not perfect. The national broadcaster has again come in for criticism having not purchased the TV rights to athletics’ big show. RTÉ last broadcast the World Athletics Championships live in 1997.

RTÉ’s head of sport, Ryle Nugent, spoke to The Times and quickly pointed the finger of blame at over-priced rights being charged to the Irish market by the IAAF. “First and foremost it is extremely disappointing we are not covering the World Athletics Championships,” Nugent said. RTÉ have broadcast live the national championships, European outdoor, indoor and cross country championships this year.

“We have a reasonability in our rights dealings to pay what we consider to be a reasonable price at market value and something we can afford.

“I felt that the rights expected for Ireland were disproportionality large and it wasn’t appropriate for us to pay that type of money and that point was made probably two years ago.

“I think the fact that no other broadcaster picked up the rights in this territory suggests that everyone else felt the same thing. I can’t take that as a definitive but you can take it as a good guide.”

With Irish athletics on a high, the sport as a whole has major issues, Russia remain suspended for lack of doping controls. However, a number of Russian athletes will compete under the IAAF flag.

With TV audiences peaking among adults over 50, the IAAF blazers have serious concerns about the age profile engaging with the sport. As Usain Bolt brings the curtain down on his career, it leaves a question of where to go next.