LONDON, UK - A wealth of World and Olympic champions, and a fair share of World record holders, promise that the Norwich Union London Grand Prix, playing out to its annual full-house of spectators at the Crystal Palace stadium on Friday (28), should be a night to remember.

Isinbayeva seeking inspiration on record runway

One champion in particular holds very pleasant memories of the south London venue. Russian World Athlete of the Year Yelena Isinbayeva flew to an historic 5.00m clearance in the women's Pole Vault here last year, one of now 19 World records which the 24-year-old has now established in her career.

A change of coach and technique since the end of 2005 have made the Russian (now with a 5.01m best) look a shadow of her former self so far this year, but then we measure Isinbayeva by one of the most illustrious CV's in athletics history. Her compatriot, the former World champion and record holder Svetlana Feofanova is her main opponent in London.

Powell, a record possibility

The London meeting is the second of two British legs of the IAAF World Athletics Tour 2006, and at the other fixture Gateshead, at the beginning of June, another of athletics' 'new generation' of stars did some flying too. Asafa Powell of Jamaica has now twice run the 100m World record of 9.77 seconds. His second clocking which took place at the north of England venue came in response to USA's Justin Gatlin who had equalled that time in Doha in May. Injury to the American has denied us a duel in London but Powell's 9.86 form in Stockholm on Tuesday (25) promises another quick sprint tomorrow.

Supreme Simpson

In equally good form at the moment is another Jamaican, Sherone Simpson, who like Powell is a Commonwealth sprint champion, though at the women's 200m. The 21-year-old Jamaican holds the quickest times in the world this summer for 100m (10.82) and 200m (22.00). Her best for 200m has come twice this season, the last time in Sweden two nights ago. In this form she looks the certain favourite for the 100m in London even with a rejuvenated Marion Jones in the field.

The men do have a 200m race here, and USA's in form sub-20 second men Xavier Carter, Wallace Spearmon, and Tyson Gay, and Jamaican Usain Bolt make this a very open race.

Wariner and Richards, dead certs?

The same cannot be said for the men's or women's 400m. Jeremy Wariner and Sanya Richards have been untouchable in the one-lap this year. They lead the IAAF World Ranking for their events, and Wariner has powered his way to be the fourth fastest 400m runner of all-time. If there is a dead cert in the world of athletics it is the World and Olympic champion but then others in the past including his manager Michael Johnson have come to 'the Palace' with even greater reputations and have left as 'also-rans' on the night.

But of course reputations are always on the line in sport, and Kerron Clement is one athlete with perhaps the most to prove in London. The prodigiously talented American is only 20 years of age, the reigning World Junior champion at the 400m Hurdles, and the World Indoor record holder for the flat 400m. Many retire after decade long careers having accomplished less than Clement has achieved in his short stint in the professional but after a below par summer in Europe he needs to reconfirm that he is a winner. Clement runs in the 400m Hurdles tomorrow.

Bekele and Dibaba head impressive distance line-up

On Tuesday evening, Kenenisa Bekele, World Athlete of the Year, had the fight of his life to take the win over 1500m in Stockholm. The 24- year-old multiple global champion and record holder at longer distances has had an 'up and down' season. It has not been such an erratic summer to denote a changing of the guard at 5000m or 10,000m, just not quite the usual peerless running.

Beaten in Oslo in early June by Isaac Songok over 5000m, Bekele has reasserted his strength at that distance at further IAAF Golden League meetings in Paris and Rome. In London at 5000m he takes on the cream of Kenya, World champion Benjamin Limo, Commonwealth title winner Augustine Choge and 2003 World champion Eliud Kipchoge, USA's Bernard Lagat, and Craig Mottram, Australia's World bronze medallist.

The women's 3000m field is just as impressive. 2003 and 2005 World 5000m and 2005 World 10,000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba has for company a pack of fellow Ethiopians including former World gold medallist Berhane Adere. USA's Kara Goucher who became the second fastest ever American at 10,000m last night in Helsinki is also in the field of 20.

Swedish trio

Making their final preparations ahead of the European Championships which take place on home soil in Gothenburg next month (7 - 13 August) are three gilt edged Swedish stocks. In Stockholm two days ago Kajsa Bergqvist, the World champion at the women's High Jump leapt to a stadium record of 2.02m, indicating that her 2.04m world season lead or even the World record (2.09m) - at which she made three good attempts on Tuesday - is approachable in London. Croatian talent Blanka Vlasic is the other standout name on the jumping card.

Olympic High Jump and Triple Jump champions, respectively Stefan Holm and Christian Olsson were not as fortunate as their female compatriot. In the Swedish capital both men were well beaten into third place, but can take comfort that neither of their vanquishers (Russian Ivan Ukhov - HJ / Brazilian Jadel Gregorio - TJ ) have made the trip to London, and so it should be back to winning ways for both. Holm has the hardest task with European champion Yaroslav Rybakov of Russia - also heavily defeated in Stockholm - his chief opponent.

Other events...

There are also competitive line-ups in the men's 1500m, and the women's 800m, 400m Hurdles and Long Jump in Friday night's packed programme, starting lists that would be billed as major attractions at all but a few of the world's best meetings. London is one of this top rank no doubt, and the last IAAF World Athletics Tour 2006 stop before a fortnight's 'break' for the continental championships in Europe and Africa.