Dublin gets 2002 World Cross Country

O'Sullivan can look forward to competing on home soil

Dublin has been awarded the 2002 World Cross Country Championships less than a week after losing the 2001 event because of foot-and-mouth.

The IAAF announced the decision in Lisbon on Sunday morning.

The Swiss town of Lausanne had bid for them but it was given the 2003 event instead.

"The Irish asked for it and the IAAF Council saw no problem with that," a spokesman said.

The scheduled dates for the 2002 championships are the weekend of 16/17 March although that could be changed because of the influx of visitors for the St Patrick's Day holiday.

Paris won the right to host the end of season Golden League Grand Prix finals for next year - though it will be at the Charlety Stadium, which hosted the Golden League Grand Prix in 1999 - and not Stade de France.

Full list of major athletics events announced by IAAF on Sunday:

World Cross country championships 2002 - Dublin
2003 -Lausanne (March 29/30)
2004 - Brussels (March 20/21)
2005 - Le Mans, France (March 19/20)
Half-marathon World Championship 2003 - Vilamoura, Portugal (October)
Grand Prix Final 2002 - Paris (Charlety Stadium, date to be announced)
World Youth Championships 2003 - Sherbrook, Canada (July)