Helsinki - Competitors literally started to sweat Friday as qualifying rounds for the Sauna World Championships opened in the small town of Heinola, southern Finland.

Hopefuls - who have proved they have a clean bill of health - sit in the sauna where the temperature is about 110 degrees Centigrade. Every 30 seconds organizers throw about half a litre of water on the stove, generating plenty of steam - and humid heat.

The winner - in the men's and women's respective competition - will be known late Saturday.

Reigning men's champion Timo Kaukonen of Finland lasted 12 minutes and 26 seconds last year. Kaukonen also won in 2006, 2005 and 2003.

The competition also features four-time champion Leo Pusa of Finland.

In the 2007 women's event, Leila Kulin of Finland outlasted Natalia Tryfanava from Belarus to win her second title in a row.

Tryfanava, a three-time champion, is back this year to challenge Kulin as is Finland's Annikki Pelton who won in 2001 and 2002.

True to tradition - Finland dominates the event with 66 men and 9 women entered this year.

Challengers include nationals of Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus, Sweden, the Netherlands, England, Russia, Poland, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Serbia, Ireland, China, Denmark, and Gambia. (dpa)