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Sport England
have revealed plans to move the highly acclaimed Commonwealth Games
athletics track to Birmingham.
Plans are near
completion to move most of the track to the National Indoor Arena
in time for the World Indoor Athletics Championships in March 2003.
Sport England
has been in detailed talks with UK Athletics and Birmingham City
Council on the practical issues of installing the track, which will
be moved two weeks after the completion of the games. It will be
cut into segments and placed on pallets to be shipped direct to
Birmingham where it will be laid in preparation for the championships.
Leader of Manchester
City Council Councillor Richard Leese said "Manchester has shown
the world that England can host superb international sporting events.
Our priority has always been to promote the maximum legacy for sport
and we welcome Sport England's decision to transfer the running
track to Birmingham.
"We have always
insisted that the Games will create long-term benefits for people
and that venues will have a robust after-use. At Sportcity the City
of Manchester stadium will be superb as a new home for Manchester
City Football Club, and the EIS track and indoor hall will provide
quality facilities for elite and local community use".
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