Olympics will suit Johnson

THE International Amateur" Athletics Federation (IAAF) have changed the Olympic Games timetable to allow world 200 metres and 400 metres champion Michael Johnson to go for the double.

At a special meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday the IAAF also changed the time of the men's long jump so former world record holder Carl Lewis could compete in the 100 metres and 200 metres as well.

Although the ageing Lewis has still to qualify for the US team for this year's Olympics, the IAAF decided to alter the programme for him just in case.

Johnson, who completed his historic double at the world championships in Gothenburg last year, said he would not attempt an Olympic double unless all rounds of one event were completed before the start of the second.

Under the original Olympic timetable, the first two rounds of the 200 metres were scheduled on the same day as the 400 metres semi-finals.

With the new schedule, all four rounds of both the men's and women's 400 metres take place over the first four days, with the 200 metres scheduled for days six and seven.

The time of the men's marathon has also been switched to 7 a.m. instead of 6.30 p.m. as previously announced.

There have been conflicting medical reports over the right time to hold the marathon because of the high humidity in Atlanta in the summer. Several experts feared an evening start could put the health of some of the less experienced marathon runners at risk.

The IAAF decided to go for the early morning start as the less dangerous.