The event , which will be staged at Holyrood Park on March 30 2008, aims to emulate the success not only of the European cross country hosted at the same venue in 2003, but also reaffirm Scotland’s capabilities for hosting world class athletics in the approach to the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

UK Athletics chief executive Dave Moorcroft, who was part of the team that presented today's bid to the International Association of Athletics Federations in Monte Carlo, welcomed the return of the classic race to these shores.

“Having staged the best ever World Indoor Championships in Birmingham and the best ever European Cross Country in Edinburgh in 2003 - according to the awarding bodies - the challenge is now set for Edinburgh to host the best ever World Cross Country, 30 years after the event was last in Scotland," he said.

Geoff Wightman, chief executive of Scottish Athletics was equally buoyed by the opportunity - outlining how the Edinburgh event would seek to be a weekend full of endurance opportunities - including the resurrection of a great cross country tradition for the home countries:

“We are in the business of creating environments where our athletes and coaches can flourish. A world championship on home soil is an opportunity to taste the big time and inspire the 2012 and 2014 generation.

“To make this a high impact weekend of athletics we plan youth and community races and also to reintroduce the Home Countries international for athletes who missed out on the GB team.

“There is lots to aim for over the next 16 months. We also know that we have world class officials and volunteers who will work together to deliver the event of a lifetime.”

Councillor Donald Anderson, executive member for sport, culture and tourism in Edinburgh, said: “Edinburgh is a world class city and has a reputation for delivering world class events. In the countdown to London 2012 and hopefully Glasgow 2014 we will stage races to remember.

“This will be a great opportunity for young Scots and Brits to put down a marker for future success. We also want to inspire a new generation of youngsters by twinning local primary schools with some of the visiting nations and create a sporting legacy from the biggest athletics event in the capital city since the 1986 Commonwealth Games.”

Paul Bush, the deputy chief executive of Event Scotland, said: “Every athletics championship over the next eight years will be under the spotlight. This is a blue chip event but Scotland is a safe pair of hands for the big occasion.

“To have the athletes village, race course, training venue and city centre all within a kilometre must make Edinburgh a unique World Championship venue. We look forward to seeing the images beamed round the world and delivering the best ever World Cross Country Championships in 2008.”