2007 IAAF World Championships in Athletics will be held in Osaka

Monte CarloIAAF Council, in the first session of a meeting in Monaco, has accepted a bid from the Japanese city of Osaka to host the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in 2007. The proposed dates for the Championship are 24 August to 2 September, subject to Council approval.

“Osaka presented a very impressive bid for 2007,” said IAAF President Lamine Diack shortly after the announcement was made. “The technical facilities, which include the 50,000 seat Nagai stadium, are excellent and Japan has organised many athletics competitions in the past – including the memorable 1991 World Championships in Tokyo, the 1997 Grand Prix Final in Fukuoka and the 1999 World Indoor Championships in Maebashi. Our sport is very popular in Japan and the country continues to produce great athletes in events ranging from the Marathon to the 400m Hurdles and the Hammer Throw.

“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 organisation are guaranteed. “

Osaka is a city of 3 million people (8 million including the greater Osaka region). The Nagai Stadium hosts an IAAF Grand Prix event each year, and was the venue for three matches of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Among the Osaka delegation was the former Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshirou Mori, the Vice President of the Japan Athletic Federation, Hiroaki Chosa, the Vice Mayor of Osaka, Jun-Ichi Seki and the 2002 IAAF Grand Prix champion at Hammer Throw, Koji Murofushi.

Although Budapest and Berlin had initially stated an interest in hosting the 2007 World Championships, both cities withdrew before the final bid deadline of 1 October 2002.

A resume of other IAAF Council decisions will be sent out immediately after the end of the final session today.