UK SPORT TODAY announced the largest ever award from its World Class Events Programme in support of the 9th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics in Birmingham.
Sir Rodney Walker, Chairman of UK Sport, says that if Britain is to regain its reputation on the world stage as a capable host of sport’s most prestigious events, then the Commonwealth Games in Manchester this summer, followed by the World Indoor Championships in Athletics in Birmingham in March 2003, must prove successful.
‘This £1.1 million investment of Lottery funds by UK Sport is a clear indication of our belief that the championships in Birmingham will go a long way towards raising the UK’s status as a first rate host of world class events. It is vital that we use the World Indoor Championships in Athletics next year to showcase the UK to a massive global audience.
‘Staging major events is a vital part of UK Sport’s remit. As well as giving athletes the chance to compete in front of a home crowd, the associated social, economic and cultural benefits these championships bring are crucial for the development of sport in this country.
‘The importance of this event to our international credibility is paramount.’
CHAMPIONSHIP ORGANISERS will use the £1.1 million Lottery award from UK Sport to cover general staging costs of the event at the National Indoor Arena from March 14-16, as well as a number of development programmes to ensure a lasting legacy for the UK.
The initiatives include a community engagement campaign to increase local awareness of the event in conjunction with the World Badminton Championships that Birmingham is also hosting in May 2003. A key element of the legacy strategy for both Championships is to improve the health of the city by encouraging more people to engage in sporting activity.
Birmingham City Councillor Ian Ward, cabinet member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, described what hosting the championships will mean to the city: ‘Birmingham was the first ‘National City of Sport’ and hosting this event, along with the World Badminton Championships in May 2003, will strengthen this reputation even more. The funding from UK Sport will help us to encourage sports development in local schools leaving a lasting legacy and ensure that we engage the people of Birmingham in these two world class events.’
‘The 9th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics will be the largest indoor sports event ever to be staged in the UK, and the funding from UK Sport will be key in helping us to ensure that we deliver a world class event,’ added Championship Director Terry Colton.
Meanwhile John Scott, Director of International Relations and Major Events at UK Sport, said: ‘We have an excellent working relationship with Birmingham City Council which is bringing all its experience and expertise to this event to ensure we deliver the ‘best ever’ championships for the IAAF. We are delighted to be able to use Lottery money to bring such an important event to the UK for the first time.’
For more details contact:
Matthew Crawcour
Head of Media
Tel: 0207 841 9506 (Changes on 1 July – 0207 7211 5106)
Fax: 0207 841 8850 (Changes on 1 July – 0207 7211 5246)
Mobile: 07836 230 704
Web: www.uksport.gov.uk