Belfast to host the1999 World Cross-Country Championships

Athletics

Belfast was last night confirmed as host city for the 1999 World Cross- Country Championships. A spokesman for the International Amateur Athletic Federation Council, meeting in Monte Carlo, said: "The council wants to support the peace process and to go back to a country where cross-country has a deep tradition."

At the same meeting, the IAAF council awarded the 1997 Grand Prix final to Fukuoka, Japan, the 1997 world half-marathon championships to Kosice, Slovakia, the 1997 world race walk cup to Podborany, Czech Republic, and the 1998 world junior championships to Annecy, France.