Moscow, Aug 20 (IANS/CMC): Bahamas will host the first two editions of the IAAF World Relays, a new competition being introduced by the athletics' governing body.

The new competition was unveiled during a news conference in Moscow featuring IAAF General Secretary Essar Gabriel and attended by a number of officials including the Bahamas sports minister Daniel Johnson and IAAF Council member Pauline Davis-Thompson.

“We are here to talk about a new and exciting addition to our events,” said Gabriel Monday.

“The Relays bring the addition of teaming up and the excitement of the unfolding of different abilities with competitions from 100m up to higher distances."

The IAAF World relays will be staged in the Bahamas in 2014 and 2015.

Joanna Hayes, 2004 Olympic 100m Hurdles champion, and US sprint legend Maurice Greene also attended the news conference.

“These are exciting events that the spectators want to see. The Bahamas is the land of relays; Pauline can talk about that, and testify,“ said Gabriel.

“The icing on the cake is that the 2014 edition will be considered as a qualification for the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, and 2015 edition for the 2016 Olympics.”