Ludwigshafen, Germany -- The forthcoming athletics World Championships, which begin 15 Aug in Berlin, will see many of the world's top sprinters and distance runners on the track, from the US, Jamaica and Ethiopia, for example. BASF said in a 15 July statement that records are likely to be broken, since the races will take place on one of the world's fastest tracks.
The surface of the distinctive blue track of Berlin's Olympic stadium contains Conica products from BASF.
Conica running track materials use various rubber crumb layers, with a Conipur polyurethane binder/coating on top. The three-layer synthetic surface in Berlin "offers athletes optimal running conditions," BASF claims. A hard but elastic top layer ensures maximum return of energy to athletes, while the soft lower layers protect athletes' joints from damage.
The surface is also poured in one piece, which makes it waterproof as well as temperature and weather resistant. BASF said the outstanding quality of the Berlin stadium's track surface has been confirmed by the award of an IAAF Class 1 Certificate from the International Association of Athletics Federations, organiser of the Berlin event.
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