The IAAF World Championships (August 10-18) commence in Moscow this weekend, and it’ll be Usain Bolt’s first trip to Russia. The world’s fastest man plainly isn’t the type to research his trips. When recently asked why he didn’t know much about Russia, Bolt replied: “It’s hard, for real. Everyone is asking me this question and I don't know what to say. Oh, I’ve been told to say something about beautiful Russian women … But I mean, everyone says that!” What Bolt did have to do was qualify – thanks to new rules, he didn’t receive one of the automatic 100m spots for Jamaica (he was, however, qualified for the 200m). The decathlon world record holder, American Ashton Eaton, was in the same boat. SBS Two will relay the coverage from the Luzhniki Stadium.

Our regular readers would’ve caught our feature story on Bolt’s stranglehold over the athletics world in our current edition, as well as our “10 Moscow Moments” section, where we highlighted the biggest events on a stacked program. For those who missed it, here’s an outline:

MEN’S 400M: Kirani James, Grenada’s reigning Olympic and world champion, duels again with American LaShawn Merritt, former world and Olympic champion, as track’s hottest rivalry continues.

WOMEN’S 100M HURDLES: Sally Pearson is now the hunted: the world and Olympic champion faces a real challenge from her US rivals after an injury-hit preparation.

MEN’S SPRINTS: The Usain Bolt show opens in Moscow on the opening day of competition on August 10, with heats of the 100m, the event in which he was DQ-ed in the 2011 final for a false start.

WOMEN’S POLE VAULT: A moment, please: is this the end for Yelena Isinbayeva, she of the multiple records and titles and (very) carefully studied photos and video slo-mos? The Russian superstar has hinted that Moscow might be the final act of a brilliant career.

MEN’S 800M: Kenya’s David Rudisha is a once-in-a-generation track talent. The world and Olympic champion and world record holder must contend with Ethiopian teenager Mohammed Aman, his heir apparent.

MEN’S LONG JUMP: Mitchell Watt arrives in Moscow with a 2011 Worlds silver, a 2012 Olympic silver … and the ability and motivation to turn such so-close experiences into a famous victory.

DISCUS, MEN’S AND WOMEN’S: Is discus the new pole vault for Aussie field medal chances? Led by 2009 world champion Dani Samuels and men’s duo Ben Harradine and exciting junior Julian Wruck, strong results are expected in both events.

MEN’S DISTANCE EVENTS: GB’s Mo Farah all but stole the show in London last year, winning Olympic gold in the 5000m and 10,000m. He’ll defend his 2011 5000m title here as the Kenyans and Ethiopians seek to regain their distance supremacy.

WOMEN’S 200M: Olympic champion Allyson Felix of the US still makes the grunt and grind of explosive speed look as graceful as ballet. She seeks her fourth 200m world title.

ROAD EVENTS: Triple Olympic medallist Jared Tallent leads a deep walking squad which includes emerging star Dane Bird-Smith. Nine Aussies, including former world cross-country champion Benita Willis, provide us with solid representation in the marathon events.

For the full story, grab the current edition of Inside Sport, which still might be on the newsstands, if you’re lucky …