Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell are set for a showdown in Gateshead just a fortnight after the Olympic 100m final.

The pair will meet at the Aviva British Grand Prix, which is part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour 2008, on 31 August in what is likely to be a highlight of the first athletics meeting in the UK after the Beijing Olympic Games.

It will be the first time they will have raced against each other in an IAAF Grand Prix status meeting this year.

Powell is the Commonwealth champion and former World record holder. He equalled his then World record of 9.77 the last time he ran in Gateshead two years ago.

Gay, the current World champion at 100m and 200m, was due to meet Powell, the World 100m bronze medallist at the recent Aviva London Grand Prix but had to withdraw due to an ongoing hamstring problem.

“It was just too much of a risk for me to run in London and I apologise to the British fans for not running there. But I promise I will make it up to them in Gateshead,” said Gay.

This summer, Gay has so far a best of 9.77 and Powell has 9.82 to his credit.

The Gateshead meeting will also be the first outing post-Beijing for the majority of Britain’s returning track and field stars.

Andrew Wallace for the IAAF