The northern Greek city of Thessaloniki was chosen to host the 2006 European Cup in Athletics - formerly known as the Bruno Zauli Cup - the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced on Tuesday, only one day after Athens won the bid of 2006 IAAF World Cup in Athletics.

The European Cup will be held in June 2006, while the World Cup will be held in September in the same year.

Greek Deputy Cultural Minister in charge of Sports Affairs George Orfanos said the decision to award yet another major international sports competition to Greece, reflected the international sports world's confidence in Greece.

"The right preparation and coordinated movements by the Greek side have brought Greece this victory, which will yield the corresponding benefits with the presence of dozens of top athletes," he told reporters.

"The decision of the European Athletic Association (EAA) proves the high level of Greek sport and our country is once again called on to prove its abilities, using the important legacy in infrastructure and installations but also experience obtained during the successful organization of the Olympic Games," he added.

Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Monday welcomed the decision by IAAF to hold 2006 World Cup in Athens.

"The undertaking of the hosting of the 2006 World Cup in Athletics by our country shows the confidence which the international community has in Greece, following the successful hosting of the 2004 Olympic Games," he said.

"The utilization of the Olympic heritage which the Games left in our country is a major priority of the government. I am certain that Greece, yet again, will fully respond to the high expectations of the world athletics community," he stressed.

Source: Xinhua