France's Pierre Weiss was appointed IAAF general secretary yesterday at the start of a two-day council meeting in Osaka.

He replaces Istvan Gyulai who died this month aged 62.

Weiss will hold the post until the next IAAF congress in 2007, just before the World Championships in Osaka, athletics' governing body said on its website.

Weiss has been IAAF general director since 1991.

A former sprinter, Gyulai became an IAAF council member in 1984 and was appointed general secretary in 1991.

¤ Italy will bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games and will choose within four months whether Rome or Milan will be the candidate city. Italy's capital Rome hosted the 1960 Summer Games and bid for the 2004 Olympics which were held in Athens.

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