British Government ministers have been told that they cannot move the venue for the 2005 World Athletics Championships from London to Sheffield, and it now looks certain that the event will be awarded to another country.
International Athletics chiefs have ruled out the British Government's plans to move the event to Sheffield, insisting that the event could only be staged in London if it was to take place on British soil. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and Sports Minister Richard Caborn had been hoping to persuade IAAF President Lamine Diack to agree to the venue change at a meeting in London earlier today. Diack has ruled out the proposed change, and has insisted that the bidding process must now be reopened.
IAAF spokesman Giorgio Reineri said the new bidding process would commence in November, and would more than likely last until the next Coucil meeting in March. "The President told the ministers that it was unacceptable to shift the Championships from one place to another. If Sheffield want to bid they are free to do so but they are racing against other cities."
Berlin, Sydney, Budapest and Stuttgart are also expected to be in the running to host the Championships.
Filed by Tom Grealis
