MONACO: Doha was chosen to host the 2019 World Athletics Championships on Tuesday, becoming the first city from the Middle East to stage the blue riband event.

The Qatari capital, overlooked for the 2017 edition to be held in London, was selected ahead of rival bids from Barcelona and the American city of Eugene.

Doha triumphed at a secret ballot of the IAAF Council in Monaco, following final presentations by the three bidding cities. The bid teams from all three cities made final presentations to IAAF officials ahead of the vote.

IAAF President Lamine Diack announced the winning bid. The athletics world championships are held every two years.

Doha, who will also host the 2022 World Cup football finals, have already successfully staged the 2006 Asian Games.

The championships will take place at the Khalifa Stadium at the end of September, later than usual, to spare competitors from the worst of the searing desert heat.

The 2015 world championships take place in Beijing from August 22-30, while the London 2017 event is also scheduled for August.

Published in Dawn, November 19th , 2014