By Mike Rowbottom

iaaf xcNovember 23 - Guiyang and Cali were respectively confirmed at today's International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) Council meeting as host venues for the 2015 World Cross Country championships and the World Youth Championships.

Guiyang and Cali were sole bidders, and competition dates have yet to be confirmed.

The delegation from Guiyang, China attending the meeting in Barcelona was headed by Vice-Mayor Gao Weidong and Chinese Athletics Association general secretary Du Zhaocai and included 1996 Olympic 5,000 metres champion Wang Junxia and 2000 Olympic 20 kilometre race walking champion Wang Liping.

Guiyang, capital of Guizhou Province, is located in the southwest of China, on the eastern side of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.

The city is situated at 1,100m above sea level and has a population of 4.3 million, while the average temperature in March is around 11.9°C.

The city, which was the venue for the 2005 and 2012 Asian Cross Country Championships, is rich in history, folk culture and traditions.

Guiyang abounds with artefacts from the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as the Jiaxiu Tower, Wenchang Pavilion, Yangming Cave and Qingyan Ancient Town.

Gao Weidong and Du Zhaocai with Lamine Diack in BarcelonaGao Weidong and Du Zhaocai with Lamine Diack in Barcelona

Weidong presented IAAF President Lamine Diack with a specially embroidered banner embellished with symbols of good luck and good fortune to mark the IAAF Centenary.

Meanwhile, Cali was represented by President of the Colombian Athletics Federation Ramiro Varela, Sports Secretary Clara Luz Roldán, and the Governor's sports manager Fernando Luis Martinez.

The Colombian city is situated at 1,000m above sea level, has a population of 2.5 million and temperatures average around 30°C max in July.

The city, which was the venue for the 2005 South American Championships and 2007 CAC Championships is known in Colombia as the capital of fiestas, street partying, dancing, and salsa, as Cali's Salsa Clubs are among the most famous in the entire continent.

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