Birmingham To Stage Ipc Athletics Grand Prix

Some of the world’s best athletes will compete in Birmingham on Saturday 29th June when the British city’s Alexander Stadium stages the 2013 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final.

Taking place three weeks before the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France, the Birmingham IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final will be the seventh and final event of the IPC Athletics Grand Prix. 

The series was launched this year to give athletes greater opportunities to compete against the world’s best whilst also developing a framework of excellence in competition management.

Being staged just one day before the British Athletics Birmingham Grand Prix, the event is expected to welcome more than 144 athletes competing in 18 events.

Ed Warner, chairman of the IPC Athletics Sport Technical Committee, said: ‘We are delighted that Birmingham will stage the final event of our IPC Athletics Grand Prix this year.’

‘We created this Grand Prix to give athletes a chance to compete on the highest level and we are confident that many of our best athletes will come to Birmingham to test their form ahead of the World Championships in Lyon in July.’

Hannah Cockcroft, British gold medal winner at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, added: ‘I’m so excited to see the UK hosting another world-class athletics event and this time in Birmingham, so even closer to home for me.’

‘Seeing as the event is in June, it provides a great chance to get the qualification standards for July’s World Championships in Lyon.’

‘There is nothing better than competing in front of a home crowd as we showed in London. The British public really got behind all the athletes and that support really helps you with your performance.’

‘I am really excited to see that the UK has another opportunity to showcase high quality disability sport in Birmingham. Winning gold was amazing and doing that in my home country was even more special. To be able to have the chance to run in front of a home crowd is exciting for any British athlete.’ 

Jonnie Peacock, the British 100m T44 Paralympic champion, added: ‘Having that backing from the crowd and to hear the chants of my name from the stands was a moment I’ll never forget. The IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final gives the public another opportunity to see some of the best athletes that Britain and the world have to offer and I can’t wait.’