Fears for Dublin staging of athletics championships

Concern is mounting as to whether Dublin will be able to stage the World Cross-Country Championships with the foot and mouth outbreak.

Irish Sports Council chairman John Treacy said the case in Armagh had caused further complications.

"There is a concern about it going ahead. The problem is the spectators who will be coming from all over the country and abroad. We could not hope to seek a postponement as the athletes would be going on to a different season, so we would just have to cancel it," said Treacy.

A spokesman for the event said the latest deadline for moving it away from Dublin would be March 9.