The 800m is perhaps many people's favourite because it is a sprinting and middle-distance combination.

Andrei Bucher of Switzerland is the big favourite.

The big Swiss is very astute at racing tactics and has run 1 min 42.9 secs and three of the top five times of the season with wins in Paris, Lausanne and Monte Carlo.

I think he is the outstanding favourite and has been training in altitude in the Swiss Alps especially in the absence of Yuri Borzakovski.

He is the outstanding young talent from Russia who surprisingly pulled out of these championships on his coach's advice just two weeks ago.

Hezekiel Sepeng is another to watch out as the world championship silver medallist behind Wilson Kipketer last time and Kipketer will not be running this time.

So Sepeng the South African might be a man to watch but he has been beaten on two of three occasions by Bucher.

Anyone in a Kenyan vest has to be watched and their trio will undoubtedly be contenders for a podium place and William Yiampoy, the Kenyan champion is perhaps the likely one.

For outsiders, look for Nduwimana of Burundi as he has run 1min 43 this year and young Bram Som of Holland who ran a personal best of 1 min 43.9 in Monaco just two weeks ago.

But Bucher I think looks unbeatable.