Usain Bolt lined up for a race against a five-year-old Greek boy – and lost.

The short run through a cheering crowd yesterday, however, certainly won't diminish Bolt's status as the top sprinter in the world or dampen expectations for another victory at this weekend's world final.

"It was really fun with the kids," said Bolt, who was cheered on by about 200 students on a Thessaloniki street and smiled as he let the boy finish first. "A very warm reception."

Bolt is one of about 300 athletes that will compete in the two-day meet at Kaftanzoglio stadium. The Jamaican, who set world records in both the 100 and 200 metres at last month's world championships in Berlin, will only run in the longer of the two races this weekend. Sprint rivals Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay will run against each other in the 100.

The world's best athletes will gather in northern Greece to compete in 36 events. The winners in each event will receive $30,000. A world record will be worth an extra $100,000.

Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, Ethiopian distance runner Kenenisa Bekele and American runner Sanya Richards, who split the $1 million Golden League jackpot for winning their events in all six meets this season, are all competing.