World cross country event switched to Brussels

The World Cross Country Championships have been moved from Dublin to Brussels because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The event was due to be held at Leopardstown racecourse on March 24-25.

The championships will now go ahead on the same weekend in the Belgian capital.

A statement from the International Amateur Athletic Federation said: "The IAAF accepts the decision with regret but fully understands that the extraordinary circumstances left the Irish Athletic Association with no alternative but to cancel the event."