The city of Ostend has been chosen as the venue of the 2008 SPAR European Cross Country Championships by the European Athletics Association (EAA).
The Belgian port, which stepped in at short notice to host the IAAF World Cross Country Championships five years ago, will stage the meeting in two years time on December 14.
Ostend successfully staged the global championships in 2001 with just three weeks' notice after the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Great Britain and Ireland ruled Dublin out of playing host that year.
European Athletic Association president Hansjorg Wirz said: ``We are delighted to be working with the Belgian Athletic Federation, the city of Ostend and the other stakeholders.
``We are confident that their organisational experience and the tradition of cross country in Belgium are the basis for a great event in 2008.''
This year's championships are scheduled for San Giorgio su Legano, Italy, on 10 December while next year's will take place in Toro, Spain.
Press Association for the IAAF