Courtesy of IAAF

Monte-Carlo - The 10th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics which take place in Budapest, Hungary (5-7 March) are set to attract the biggest number of national teams in the championships' history.

The most international of the previous nine editions was the 2001 celebration in Lisbon, Portugal, at which 136 member federations of the IAAF took part, next best was the total of 133 nations who fielded teams in last year's Championships in Birmingham, England. In terms of the preliminary entries received 144 nations have indicated their intention to participate in Budapest this March, which should mean that Lisbon's record will be at the very least matched when final entries close next week.

The increase reflects the continual rise in the popularity of these Championships. In their infancy in 1989, when the 2nd IAAF World Indoor Championships were also held in the Hungarian capital, only 62 nations competed.

What's more the popularity extends to the fans too! This year's Championships have been 'sold-out' to spectators since last Christmas, and a tented hall is being erected outside the Budapest Sports Hall, in which a large TV screen will show live coverage to accommodate the extra public demand.

As usual there will be substantial prize money at stake when the 10th IAAF World Indoor Championships are contested Friday 5 to Sunday 7 March, with an individual winner taking away US $ 40,000, with $20,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze graduating down to $4000 for a sixth place finish. Also, any athlete breaking a World Record in the Championships will be awarded US $ 50,000.

For more information, check out www.iaaf.org.