Shanghai gets the best possible subway upgrade ahead of Diamond League meet

This Shanghai subway got a complete makeover ahead of the Diamond League track and field meet on May 14 in China’s most populous city. The interior was painted to resemble a track surface as well as a shot put area and long jump pit as public transit users will be riding in style for the time being.

The Diamond League, put on by the world’s track and field governing body (IAAF), is a circuit of high-profile competitions held around the world in the spring and summer. Shanghai’s meet will serve as the second stop on tour after Doha hosted the opening event on May 6.

Many athletes use the Diamond League circuit to qualify for the Olympics in Rio this summer or to sharpen up for the Games. All the photos were posted to the IAAF Facebook page.

In cities trying to raise the profile of track and field, subways are often an ideal spot because of its exposure and widespread public use. In Hamburg, Germany, for example, a subway station got a complete track-themed makeover in the lead-up to a referendum to host the Olympics, which was later voted down.

RELATED: Photos of the German subway station that got a track-themed makeover.

Shanghai is the world’s most populous city proper with more than 24 million people. That’s a lot of exposure for track and field though it’s unknown how many subways were fitted with the new paint job.

RELATED: Here’s how long it would take to run between Toronto subway stations.

Many of the world’s top athletes will be competing at this weekend’s second stop on the Diamond League tour including 800m world record holder David Rudisha, 5,000m runner Yomif Kejelcha and American Jenny Simpson.

Want to sprint, long jump or shot put while traveling? It's possible in the #Shanghai subway! pic.twitter.com/jleoa7OxNz

— DLShanghai (@ShanghaiDL) May 10, 2016

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