I LOVE athletics, but watching the men's 100m sprint has become more and more painful.

In the British Grand Prix the other weekend, it took at least five attempts to get the athletes successfully off the blocks.

It was false start, after false start, after false start.

It doesn't do the runners' nerves any good - or the patience of viewers.

Now, in the time for the world championships this weekend, officials have come up with a change of rules.

After the debacles of previous championships, you can't blame them, but from what I've gleaned secondhand, they seem a bit steep - jumping the gun the first time is ignored, but at the second attempt to get them off, whoever breaks is disqualified.

That'll slow the times down somewhat as athletes hang back to make sure they're safe, but it should be better for the frustrated speccies.

Like me, athletics fans won't be able to wait for the Edmonton event to get under way.