17 April -MANAUS- Brazil. The equatorial jungle will be the magnificent backdrop to the 4^th IAAF - Amazon Government World Road Relay Championships which take place here tomorrow and Sunday. This is the second time that an IAAF event is organised in Brazil: the first was in 1989 in Rio de Janeiro, when the Chinese distance runners astounded everyone by winning the 15km road race individual and team titles. Wang Xiuting and Zhong Huabi - who took first and second place against the magnificent scenery of the Pão da Açucar - have long since left their places to other, though no less worthy, champions: indeed, China will start favourite tomorrow in the women’s road relay championship race. This event - born in Japan a century ago and also known as the Ekiden - is especially popular in the Far East: on 28 February this year, the Chinese national team, composed of Jiang Bo, Dong Yanmei, Zhao Fengting, Ma Zaijie, Lan Lixin and Lin Na, marked a world best in the event with a time of 2:11:41.

This result is unlikely to be bettered in Manaus. Not because the athletes participating are of a lower standard - be they Chinese, Kenyan, Ethiopian or Rumanian - but because of the climate. The equatorial jungle is spectacular and fascinating, but it must be treated with caution. Taken hastily and at a record-breaking pace, the 42,195m of the circuit (divided into six stages of 5km, 10km, 5km, 10km, 5km and 7.195km), problems could well arise, for heat and humidity are the sworn enemies of endurance events.

Though the Chinese squad - composed of Dong Liu, Jlanying Liu, Dongmei Wang, Minxia Wang, Quingfen Wang and Siju Yang - is the pundits’ favourite, Ethiopia and Kenya are certainly in the running for the podium, which offers awards of $120,000 for first place, $60,000 for 2^nd and $30,000 for third.

The Ethiopians didn’t have an easy time getting here: 45 hours travelling, including a 17 hour wait in Rome’s Fiumicino airport, but none of the team were complaining when they arrived in Manaus. World junior champion, Yimenashu Taye said that a good night’s sleep was all she needed to recover: "I am running a 5km leg and want to run a fast time. Is there a prize for the fastest athlete?" she wanted to know, her eyes shining. Alongside Taye, Ethiopia will be fielding Merima Denboba, Gete Wami, Ayelech Worku, Genet Geberegiorgis and Asha Gigi.

All in all, it is going to be a hot challenge in Manaus. Kenya and Rumania are also fielding some of their best athletes for an event which will truly determine the best women’s team in the world.

The two days of competition will be broadcast live by Brazilian television and a 52 minute programme of highlights will be sent out free of charge, via satellite, between 17:00 and 18:00 GMT on Sunday 19 April to the 94 countries who have asked for the programme. These include, in Europe: Portugal, France, Russia, Rumania, Turkey, Holland, Italy and the Eurosport network (covering 76 countries); in Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa; in Oceania: Australia and 15 other countries; in Asia: Japan.

Full results direct from Manaus live.
Reports from the event should be available on the site approximately 2 hours after the conclusion of each day’s competition (18:00-19:00GMT).