Neeraj qualifies with an effortless 89.34m throw

IT'S always a bit crazy inside the athletics stadium.

- INDRANEEL DAS

The sport itself is considered the Blue Riband event of the Olympics, just like swimming and gymnastics.

While the last two are confined to indoors, athletics is held outdoors. True to its grandeur, it is assigned to the best quarters.

Here in Paris, the grand Stade de France, a place that's more than just a cathedral of sports, is hosting the events. As soon as one walks into the stadium, the purple Mondo tracks stare straight at you. The newly-laid track has created as much hype around its fast air-bubble sandwiched base, its speed as the athletics event itself.