Usain Bolt's brief address appreciated by his audience inside the Luzhniki stadium, where the atmosphere significantly improved after a flat opening few days. People came in relatively large numbers.

There was vociferous support for Russian competitors. With more gold medals than any other nation there was plenty for the home fans to shout about. This is a country where athletics has not been a popular spectator sport. Maybe this event has helped change that.

This has also been a championships without a major drugs scandal. Doping controversies had marred the build-up.

There was one issue which stubbornly refused to go away. Some foreign athletes openly protested against Russia's law banning the promotion of gay and lesbian relations.

The country's sports minister said the whole topic had been blown out of proportion by the Western media. But with the Sochi Winter Olympics just six months away this contentious subject is set to linger.