The Premier of Queensland, Peter Beattie, launched the bid at Parliament House in Brisbane. Beattie said Brisbane was ready to take on competition from around the world and be the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to stage the event.
The event, which is held every two years, attracts 3,200 world-class athletes and officials from over 200 countries and 500,000 spectators over 9 days.
Beattie said the launch followed his recent visit to Monaco where he met with International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) officials. "I had the opportunity to express this Government's support for the bid personally in a meeting with International Association of Athletics Federation officials - including Mr Lamine Diack, President of the IAAF, His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II and IAAF delegates.
The bid is put forward by Athletics Australia, in conjunction with Queensland Events.
Athletics Australia President, Rob Fildes said "Brisbane's bid is a bid from all of Australia on behalf of the whole Oceania region and we are very confident that what Sydney did for the Olympics, Brisbane can do for the IAAF World Championships" added Mr Fildes.
The IAAF Council Members will now review the bid and an evaluation team will visit Brisbane in early 2007.
