Birmingham to Host 2013 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final

Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium is set to host the 2013 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final on June 29th.

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.”  

British Athletics’ Commercial Director Sophia Warner said: “I know from experience that the world’s top stars love the opportunity to compete in front of a British crowd so this is superb news not only for British Athletics but for disability athletics. 

“With our top athletes competing in the British Athletics Glasgow International Match, the IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final confirmed for Birmingham, and the third day of athletics at the London Anniversary Games I am proud that we are working so well with our IPC colleagues to create a competition legacy for our disabled athletes.”

The IPC Athletics Grand Prix started this weekend with a three day meet in Dubai, UAE which featured 460 athletes from 32 countries. In April there will be meetings in Beijing, China and Sao Paulo, Brazil whilst in May athletes will compete in Grosseto, Italy and Arizona, USA. The final meeting prior to Birmingham takes place in mid-June in Berlin, Germany.