SEVILLE has been chosen to host the world championships in 1999, the ruling International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) announced yesterday.

Three other candidates had been in the running for the world championships - Helsinki, New Delhi and Stanford, California.

Seville's victory came two weeks after the Spanish city failed to reach an International Olympic Committee shortlist of five cities bidding to host the 2004 Games.

Seville is the capital of the Andalucia region, which held last year's ski world championships and will also see the Ryder Cup tournament between the United States and Europe tee off in September at Valderrama.