The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has awarded the 2005 World Athletics Championships to Helsinki Finland, following a meeting in Nairobi Sunday.
Helsinki beat out Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Moscow and Rome, following six rounds of voting.
Harri Holkeri, former Prime Minister of Finland and head of the Finnish delegation said, “I think this competition has been a very tight one and we have a very high respect for our fellow competitors. You have our word the Athletics World Championships in Helsinki 2005 will be a success”.
IAAF President Lamine Diack said, “all the candidates presented very excellent, innovative and imaginative proposals”.
London was originally slated to host the event, but the British government decided against building a new stadium.
