Thanks to a ground-breaking, cooperative effort between the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), USA Track & Field (USATF), the World Championships Sports Network (WCSN), and Dentsu Inc., track fans in the United States will have the opportunity to watch unprecedented coverage of the 2005 World Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The Championships, in which Team USA will seek to continue its run as the World's #1 Track & Field Team, will be held August 6-14 in Helsinki, Finland.

In total, more than 70 hours of event coverage will be available to U.S. fans via national broadcast on the PAX national television network, regionally through Comcast, and online via the WCSN Web site.

"We are thrilled that the 2005 World Championships will be available in the homes of nearly every American household," said USATF CEO Craig Masback, who announced the broadcast schedule Saturday at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. "The coverage provided this year on PAX and other outlets will provide serious track fans what they have always wanted - live, comprehensive and near-constant coverage of the world's greatest track and field event."

Webcast Breakthrough

Fifty-plus hours of live coverage also will be webcast on a pay-per-view basis at www.wcsn.com, the Web site of the World Championship Sports Network, with the site to launch in late July. All material on wcsn.com will be archived, so fans can view the action from Helsinki at any time - including live, during the meet from August 6-14. The coverage will be originated by the IAAF, with the feed being picked up by U.S. provider WCSN.

"WCSN is a company that is focused on providing interested viewers enhanced opportunities to see major international sports competitions on television and online in the USA," said Claude Ruibal, President and CEO of WCSN. "We are proud to webcast the World Outdoor Championships as one of our first major endeavors and to arrange for the distribution on television with PAX and Comcast, on behalf of the IAAF."

In addition, regional television coverage will be provided by ComcastSportsNet in Philadelphia, Baltimore/Washington, and Northern and Central California, Comcast Sports Southeast in Atlanta, and Comcast Local in Detroit.

World Outdoor Track & Field Championships broadcast schedule

PAX Network. All times Eastern. Check local listings.

August 6: 4-5pm

August 7: 4-5pm

August 8: 5-6pm

August 9: 5-6pm

August 10: 5-6pm

August 11: 5-6pm

August 12: 5-6pm

August 13: 4-5pm

August 14: 4-5pm