A new athletics track for Utilita Arena Birmingham, purchased by Birmingham City Council, is set to host its first event this weekend in the shape of the UK Athletics Indoor Championships.

The track replaces the original, used at the city centre venue since its opening in 1991 and will be host to both the UK Athletics Indoor Championships and Indoor Grand Prix events.

At this weekend’s first event (February 18-19), athletes will be competing for GB & NI team places for the European Indoor Championships in Istanbul (March 2-5).
And just a week later, the Birmingham World Indoor Tour Final 2023 (aka Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham) – featuring some of the best athletes in the world – will be staged on February 25.

Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics, said: “We’re delighted that the UK Athletics Indoor Championships will be the first event to benefit from this state-of-the-art new indoor Mondo track. This is a fantastic arena and the sport has been privileged to host the best athletes in the world here year after year.

“The investment in this new track shows how important athletics is to Birmingham and I can’t wait to see it in action this weekend as well as during next week’s World Indoor Tour Final.”

Hannah England, former GB & NI middle-distance athlete and World Championships silver medallist, who lives in Birmingham, said: “It is so exciting to see the new track installed ahead of this weekend! As an athlete I loved the indoor season and competing here in Birmingham was always a thrill as this is a great arena for athletics.

“Living here in Birmingham I have seen first-hand the huge investment in the athletics facilities and it is brilliant to see such a strong legacy for the sport following the Commonwealth Games.”

The track itself is from Mondo, a partner of World Athletics.

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Watch a time lapse of the track install here:

(Video credit: Birmingham City Council)