Osaka to host Worlds

Nagai Stadium hosted England during the World Cup

Osaka will host the World Athletics Championships in 2007.

The Japanese city was officially named on Friday by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF).

But the selection was not a surprise, as Osaka became the only candidate to stage the event after Berlin and Budapest withdrew their bids before the 1 October deadline.

I believe the IAAF has a responsibility as the world governing body to rotate our biggest event

Lamine Diack
IAAF president

Osaka, which mounted an unsuccessful campaign for the 2008 Olympics, will become the second Japanese city to host the Worlds.

"Osaka presented a very impressive bid for 2007," IAAF president Lamine Diack said.

"The technical facilities, which include the 50,000 seat Nagai Stadium, are excellent.

"And Japan has organized many athletics competitions in the past - including the memorable 1991 World Championships in Tokyo.

Responsibility

"I would also like to stress that of the first 10 editions of the World Championships up until 2005, only two will have been held outside Europe.

"I believe the IAAF has a responsibility as the world governing body to rotate our biggest event as long as the highest standards of organization are guaranteed."

Next year's World Championships will be held in Paris, and the 2005 event is set to be staged in Helsinki, Finland.

The proposed dates for the championships are 24 August to 2 September, subject to IAAF Council approval.