Japanese athletics officials are exploring the possibility of hosting the 2007 athletics world championships. The Japan Association of Athletics Federations will hold talks with business groups and potential host cities before reaching a decision on May 15, the deadline for submitting bids to the IAAF, the governing organisation for track and field.
Tokyo hosted the world championships in 1991. Yokohama and Osaka are among the likely candidates to bid for the 2007 event. The athletics world championships are among the most important international sporting events after the Olympic Games and the soccer World Cup. The Canadian city of Edmonton hosted the 2001 world championships. Bureau Report