The event, to be held on October 11 2009, will be the most significant athletics event to be staged in Britain before the London 2012 Olympic Games.

 

The Midlands city is already due to stage the 2010 European Gymnastics Championship and the 2011 the World Championships in trampoline, tumbling and double-mini trampoline.

 

It has also signed an agreement with USA Track & Field for that country's athletes to base themselves in Birmingham during the build-up to the 2012 Olympics.

 

The successful bid for this latest event was made jointly by Birmingham City Council and UK Athletics and the decision was announced by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) today following a presentation to their council at a meeting in London.

 

Birmingham City Council and UK Athletics have worked closely in the past having jointly organised the 9th IAAF World Indoor Championships in 2003 and the 29th European Athletics Indoor Championships in 2007 and the successful staging of these events is believed to have led to a positive decision for Birmingham.

 

Councillor Ray Hassall, cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture for Birmingham City Council said: "We are delighted to have been successful in our bid to stage this prestigious Championship.

 

"This event will raise the profile of Birmingham on an international level and up to 50 countries could send athletes to participate, which will lead to global television coverage for the city and there will also be a significant economic impact for Birmingham with hundreds of athletes, coaches and officials staying in the city for several days."

 

"We are looking forward to working alongside UK Athletics once again and to staging an event of which the city and the country can be proud."

 

Ed Warner, chairman of UK Athletics, said: "We are delighted to be partnering with Birmingham City Council once again to host this prestigious event.

 

"Everyone at UK Athletics is looking forward to putting on another top class sporting spectacle in Birmingham and welcoming some of the world's best runners."

 

This year's edition of the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, which has also been previously known as the IAAF World Road Running Championships, is being held on October 12 in Rio de Janiero and previous host cities have included New Delhi in India, Edmonton in Canada and Brussels in Belgium.

 

The event has been staged in Britain twice previously, with the inaugural event being held in Newcastle in 1992.

 

The Championship then returned to Britain in 2001 when it was hosted by Bristol.

 

Previous winners of the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships have included Paula Radcliffe, who has won the women'race three times, including in 2001, Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie and Scottish running legend Liz McColgan, who won in 1992.

 

In October 2008 Birmingham will stage its first ever Half Marathon and this event is expected to be officially launched later this month.