London offered 2005 lifeline

Britain's government abandoned plans at Picketts Lock

Britain has been offered the chance to show it can still stage the 2005 World Athletics Championships while Germany are ready to provide an alternative venue.

The sport's governing body has ruled out switching the event to Sheffield after the proposed Picketts Lock stadium in north London was scrapped.

But IAAF president Lamine Diack offered Britain a lifeline on Saturday.

He said Britain would be given until 26 November to demonstrate it would have a stadium ready, or the bid would lapse.

We can't understand why London can't build a stadium like France, like Berlin

IAAF president Lamine Diack

Diack said other bids would then be invited, but again ruled out Sheffield as an alternative.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and Sports Minister Richard Caborn were unable to persuade the IAAF to accept the change of venue at a meeting on Friday.

Berlin, Sydney, Budapest and Tokyo are all interested in hosting the event.

Diack said he could not understand why London was unable to build a multi-event stadium, such as the Stade de France in Paris.

But London bid chairman Len Hatton and UK Athletics president David Hemery are confident they can still host the event after a meeting with IAAF secretary-general Istvan Gyulai on Saturday.

The Government is sending a letter to UKA, signed by Prime Minister Tony Blair, saying it is impossible to stage the Championships in London.

'Refusing to give up'

But Gyulai was assured that the World Championships are not the preserve of the British Government but of UK Athletics.

"Neither David Moorcroft or myself will throw in the towel until the last possible moment," insisted Hemery.

Hatton added: Hatton said: "I came personally to Bristol today to apologise to Mr Diack and members of his IAAF Council.

"I am embarrassed by what has happened. When we told them what we could do, they believed us and gave us the world championships.

"Now we are going to fight for these championships.

Several German options

"I will be asking for meetings with the secretary of state and minister of sport and insisting we have further consultations to reconsider the decision.

"I think it is courtesy to speak with them first before asking to see Mr Blair.

"There is the possibility of funding from the private sector. We are - if there is no Government help - considering doing this and we have a meeting next week to consider this option.

"In 2005 I don't want to be watching television and see we didn't get them."

Meanwhile, Berlin, venue for the 1993 World Championships, is seen as the favourite to host the event but Stuttgart is also keen.

Munich, where the European athletics championships will take place next year, could also be an option.