David Moorcroft: Welcomed the decision

The IAAF earlier named Paris as the host city for the 2003 World Championships.

Paris was again the only candidate and the Stade de France, venue for football's 1998 World Cup final, will stage the event.

And Birmingham won the right to host the 2003 World Indoor Championships.

UK Athletics chief executive David Moorcroft welcomed the London decision, and said: "We're delighted that London has been chosen as the venue for the 2005 World Championships.

"The Championships, together with the new state-of-the-art National Athletics Stadium will inspire a whole new generation of athletes."

Chris Smith, secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport, said: "This is great news for athletics in the UK.

"We have never hosted this event before and I am delighted that we now have the chance to set that straight.

"There is a lot of work for the organisers to do between now and 2005.

"The Government will do all it can to help UK Athletics to stage the most successful World Championships ever - hopefully, with a record number of UK medallists."

The London bid was presented to the IAAF's council in Paris on Monday.

The decision was announced by IAAF president Lamine Diack on the second day of the Federation's council meeting.

The championships will be the most prestigious athletics event hosted by the UK since the 1948 Olympic Games.