Colombian Federation of Skating (FCP) made official on Wednesday the petition to host the Speed Skating World Cup of 2009, official spokesman said on Wednesday.

FCP press director Jose Angel Rincon told Xinhua that Bogota candidateship was presented by the president of FCP Alberto Herrera Ayala in Japan.

Colombia hopes to host the World Cup not only because of its activity on that sport, but because FCP has the support of Bogota's mayor Samuel Moreno, Rincon said.

Besides the support of Moreno, Colombia also has experience after having hosted two World Cups in 2000 and 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2008)