12th August 2008

Great Britain’s Mo Farah will compete in the 3000m at the Aviva British Grand Prix, Gateshead on Sunday 31^st August, just eight days after the Olympic 5000m final.

Mo Farah is one of several British Olympians set to compete at the one day meeting which will also host the mouth watering clash in the men’s 100m between Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell.

UK Athletics chief executive Niels de Vos is delighted to have so many leading British athletes competing,

De Vos said: “For our athletes, the journey to glory in London 2012 starts as soon as they return from Beijing. The Aviva British Grand Prix is the first major event of the London Olympiad and what better way for our athletes to start their preparation with some high quality competition in Gateshead.

The Gateshead meeting will also be the first outing post-Beijing for the majority of Britain’s returning track and field stars.

This year’s event marks the first major global track meeting in the north east since 2006. The Aviva British Grand Prix will now be held in Gateshead until at least 2010.

Gateshead Council cabinet member for culture Cllr Linda Green said,

“This event along with our selection as a potential training camp for 2012 athletes can only add to our already significant and growing reputation for world class sport in Gateshead”

Stella Hall, Creative Director of the culture ¹⁰ programme, based at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: "Sport, and athletics in particular, is a central part of NewcastleGateshead’s cultural life and so we are delighted AVIVA Grand Prix is part of our world-class festivals and events programme.  Attracting such a prestigious event immediately after the Olympics confirms the region’s already excellent reputation for top international sporting events especially in the build up towards 2012."

The Aviva British Grand Prix is one of the key sporting events taking place in 2008 as part of NewcastleGateshead’s world-class festivals and events programme.  www.NewcastleGateshead.com

Tickets for the Aviva British Grand Prix are now available on 08000 556 056 or online at www.ukathletics.net