Cram savours opening day

BBC athletics expert and former Olympic silver medallist Steve Cram gives BBC Sport Online his thoughts on the men's action on day one.

I have been to many championships as both an athlete and as a commentator now and I can honestly say I've never known an atmopshere like this.

To have more than 100,000 people here just for the morning qualifiers is just incredible and the place simply lit up with flashbulbs when Cathy Freeman stepped out on the track in the evening.

I haven't seen a stadium or crowd like it - it was something really special and I'm sure they got their money's worth from what they saw.

The men's 100m heats brought a predictably impressive display out of Maurice Greene, but there was a mixed response from the Brits.

Dwain Chambers ran incredibly well to post a time of 10.12 seconds with what I hear is cramp in two places.

He must know he is in great shape to run like like that when he is less than 100%, but he will have very sore legs now.

His big problem will be with the final coming so soon after the semi-final, but Dwain has shown he is in with a good shout of a medal.

I can't see that medal being the gold though - Greene looks unassailable to me and of the five or six people in the running, I can't see anyone who can match him really.

There was huge disappointment for the Brits in the 400m with Jamie Baulch performing so poorly, but I can only assume that he has caught one of the bugs that have been flying around here.

That can be the only explanation for him to tire so badly over the last 100m.

Sean Baldock got sucked into the hype surrounding Michael Johnson in his heat and he paid the price for it really, but all credit to Daniel Caines.

He has been given his chance and he's grabbed it with both hands - he's one for the future, there's no doubt about that.

Like Greene at 100, Johnson is clearly the man in the 400m again and I can see him leading an American 1-2-3.

I think he'll make a procession of it.