The reasons may be many and sundry, but these are some of the suggested ideas as to why they have not produced such results –
These World Championships are one year out from the Olympics to be held in London and however well an athlete does at a world championship, it does not have the 'classic catch' feel of an Olympic Gold. The pressure is different.
These world championships are therefore seen as a bit of a lead up, a final preparation in the big league to the main event, next year's Olympics.
Some of the elite of the elite have not performed to expectation, such as Australia's Steve Hooker in the Pole Vault and of course Usain Bolt when he was disqualified in the 100 metre blue ribbon sprint event by breaking the starters gun
Korea itself is not on the Track and Field European or US professional circuit and few actually knew what to expect in terms of weather, climate, history or athletic awareness. The empty seats have not gone unnoticed.
Officials have also been under fire for a wide variety of things, not least issues associated with the starters gun delay time in the set position, to the way in which athletes have been person handled. The fastidious nature of removing athletes from the field has come under notice.
Another concern has been the lack of fan fare given the winners as they do their victory lap with their flag draped around their shoulders after a Gold Medal performance.
The wind resistance has been up in most events including the field contests. The number of times the commentators have given the % of wind resistance has been legion and this will always affect performances. .
When athletes are highly pitched ready for big performances, all these things play a little part in an overall effort. Any small thing can have an infintestible negative affect on an athlete which may be the difference between a Gold medal and a Gold Medal with a world record.
As a former sprinter, triple and long jumper, what is known is that although every effort is given on one day, that same effort on another day will not produce the same result. In my case, the hotter the temperature in the jump events, the better were my distances.
As a retired Minister, I too can now look back and recognise there were occasions that people responded to the message of Jesus Christ more readily than on other occasions, but it had nothing to do with the weather or the quality of my preaching, rather the Holy Spirit's touch upon any given situation.
Having been to Korea where the Christian Church has enjoyed what can only be described as 'revival' after 'revival' I can say with boldness and certainty that it's not the weather (it gets very cold), it is their firm understanding of a theology of expectancy, that the Holy Spirit will come upon them mightily.