Australia to host 2009 BMX world championships

SYDNEY, Sep 20 (Reuters) Australia will host the 2009 BMX world championships, the International Cycling Union announced today.

The championships will be staged in the South Australian capital Adelaide and are expected to draw around 1800 entrants from 35 countries.

BMX will be included on the Olympic programme for the first time at Beijing in 2008 and BMX Australia National President Graham Arnold said the world championships would further enhance the sport's popularity.

''The inclusion of BMX into the Olympics has seen strong growth at all levels'', Arnold said in a statement, adding that the increased profile of BMX would benefit everyone in the sport's community.

REUTERS DKS BST0606