Bubka, who, along with Coe is a vice-president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), as well as an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, was a long-time vocal critic of London's failure to secure the future of the Olympic Stadium.

It is widely assumed that he did not vote for the British candidate at the vote in Monte Carlo earlier this month, although he refused to confirm this.

Bubka had regularly highlighted the fact that London had embarrassingly pulled out of previous attempts to host the event but he said the decision made by himself and the 25 other IAAF ruling Council members in Monaco will ensure a legacy in athletics following the London 2012 Olympic Games. 

Coe and Bubka are widely seen as the leading candidates to replace Laminie Diack as President of the IAAF and that it was not in Bubka's interests to see Coe lead a successful bid from London for 2017.

But Bubka claimed that the decision to award the Championships to London was the right one.

"There was a long road for London to this victory with two previous unsuccessful bids," he said.

"Now, the time is right.

"London truly deserves to stage the IAAF World Championships.

"I want to congratulate London and the whole bid team led by my colleague Seb Coe [the London 2017 bid President and Bubka's fellow IAAF vice-president] for a well done job.

"This victory, as well as Beijing 2015, shows us what Olympic legacy really means.

"Thanks to the Olympics our sport has two fascinating venues in two fascinating cities used for the greatest athletics events.

"I'm sure that the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the 2012 Olympic Stadium will give a powerful boost to athletics in the UK."

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