LET'S get the world's greatest athletes together in one place, quarter fill the stadium with half-interested Japanese observers who have hardly any local talent to cheer on, and put it all on television where only the diehards will watch. Hey, it's World Athletics Championships time again.

Yes, that's what it was, just in case you happened upon it during the week between Champions League qualifiers and the build-up to the All Ireland hurling final . . . before flicking over when you realised you knew little and cared less about who was taking part.

It pretty much puts the world of track and field into perspective at the moment.

Too many times the person who streaks to victory turns out to have some kind of juice in their veins and even the average fan . . . the person like you and me who is only looking for an excuse to get excited about any old sporting event . . . decides their time would be better spent watching tiddleywinks.

While the BBC broadcast extensive live coverage every morning, it seems the guys at RTE got it just about right on this one. One hour in the evening was more than enough time to wrap up the highlights of the day, catch up on the Irish performances and watch Bill O'Herlihy pretend it was half time in a soccer match. For Eamon Dunphy see Jerry Kiernan: doesn't care if his opinions rub people up the wrong way and hair right out of the 1982 World Cup. For Ray Houghton see Eamon Coghlan:

seems to know what he's talking about because he did play at the highest level, but really he's just agreeing with everyone else on the panel. For John Giles see Sonia O'Sullivan: stylish dresser?

Actually, O'Sullivan proved to be an excellent addition. She's a relaxed and natural presence in front of the camera which was refreshing to see when you consider that every interview she gave during her career was either coloured by the hyperactive glow of victory or the depression of a crushing defeat, no half measures. It looked like she revelled in watching the action from the remove of the television studio, free from the pressures of competition where the constant weight of expectation looked as if it made running on the track seem like running along the edge of a cliff.

The action itself, however, seemed to suffer from the fact that the championships are staged every two years.

They either take place the year after the Olympics, where the interest comes from seeing if the Olympic champion can repeat the deed, or the year before the Olympics where many athletes have the ready-made excuse that "by this time next year I'll have lifted it all to a new level". Sure you will, sunshine.

Holding next year's Beijing Games as a constant reference point seemed to tint the coverage as well. Paul Hession proved that Irishmen can sprint by reaching the semi-finals of the 200m and his bustling style saw him record his second, third and fourth fastest times ever in the oppressive Osaka heat.

"He's entitled to dream now, " said Kiernan afterwards, "it'll sustain him over the winter time." Only sustain him? Correct me if I'm wrong, but not since TJ Kearns was hurdling have we ever had a guy who could cut it at the top level of men's sprinting.

Surely, it's an achievement in itself.

The two big stars of the show from an Irish point of view were hammer thrower Eileen O'Keeffe and 20k walker Rob Heffernan. Both of their interviews restored the casual onlooker's faith in the idea that hard work brings its rewards and to hell with the cheats. Heffernan seemed to be just as happy for his family and friends around Cork as he was for himself after coming home in fifth position. The harsh reality of Irish athletics was laid bare when Kiernan pointed out that Heffernan's performance means his government grant will rise from 12,000 to 20,000 next year. Some small encouragement, I suppose.

O'Keeffe, who finished sixth, seems to have her feet planted firmly on the ground.

Single-handedly reviving the great Irish hammer-throwing tradition, the Kilkenny woman fits in her training between shifts as a nurse in Beaumont Hospital.

Without wanting to weigh her down with too many expectations, the panel cautiously said she should be in with a shout for a medal next year if she continues to improve.

Meanwhile, we watched the usual merrygoround of bombastic champs punching the air and hoopin' 'n hollerin'. We watched an American claim the 100m/200m sprint double at a canter. "Reality is Tyson Gay, " Dunphy might have said. For the sake of athletics, we hope he's real too.

Of course, the big news all week was the fact that RTE showed Arsenal's Champions League game on Wednesday instead of Celtic's antics against Spartak Moscow, thus missing out on all that drama.

Never mind, Celtic fans have a nice group and I'm sure the trip to the San Siro to take on AC Milan will be shown on 67 channels. As Jerry Kiernan might say, sure, it'll sustain them over the winter time.