Organisers of the World Cross Country Championships, scheduled for March 24th and 25th at Leopardstown, are now facing a major threat to the staging of the event as the foot-and-mouth epidemic continues to worsen. The situation is being monitored closely by the Athletics Association of Ireland (AAI).

"At the moment we are going full blast ahead with our preparations for Leopardstown," said the event press officer Liam Hennessy. "But we do not have blinkers on. This thing could overtake us depending on what happens around the country and what decisions the Government might make.

"Up to this point there are no difficulties in staging the event. We are not talking about huge numbers of people coming into the country and the fact that it is being held on a racecourse doesn't have any bearing either. But we know this thing is huge and all we can do is monitor the situation on a day-to-day basis."

Last night the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Jim McDaid cast doubt over the staging of the event. When asked on RTE television whether the championships were in doubt he replied: "You would have to say so. That is a matter for the AAI, and I hope they would take that on board."

The AAI had written to the Department of Agriculture requesting their official advice on the matter, and assuring them that they will be guided by the national interest. The AAI have also been liaising with the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF). The AAI organising committee meet tonight, when the issue will once again be discussed. There will be a point of no return by the end of next week, when the event will either be definitely on or definitely off. There is no question of a postponement or a switch to another country as a number of the participating countries, including Australia and Kenya, have plans to arrive in Dublin well in advance.

Some countries might have decided decide not to send teams to Dublin even if the event went ahead and after the disease had spread here.