US GIVES BRUM OLYMPIC GOLD

04-03-2007

Birmingham has pulled off a stunning coup by persuading the US track and field team to base its training camp in the city ahead of the 2012 Olympics. The Americans are the most successful nation in history of the games, and their arrival is a feather in the cap of city leader Mike Whitby.

The announcement was made this morning in the midst of the final day of the European Indoor Athletics Championship Athletics at the NIA.

Whitby told us that he opened negotiations with Stephanie Hightower, chair of US track and field, at last year's Grand Prix athletics meeting in Birmingham, and that other disciplines and other teams should now follow.

“These are the crème de la creame, but now that track and field have made their decision, the swimmers and the gymnasts and all the other teams will be looking and asking why they chose Birmingham” said Whitby.

“I'm prepared to fly to America to speak to those other disciplines to bring them here.

“We have some awesome facilities. The Americans will be using Alexander Stadium, but there's Birmingham University as well, and we can put together an offer that is very attractive.

“I think this the first announcement of many about Olympic teams coming and basing themselves for the Olympics.”