British Athletics has today, Wednesday 23 May, launched its Festival of Athletics which will be taking place this summer at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, focused around the Müller Anniversary Games.
Leading British Athletics stars Reece Prescod, Stef Reid and Jonnie Peacock led a session with local schoolchildren at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park today as they took part on a Müller Anniversary Games-themed Tumbleator.
As well as the leading athletics meet, which will feature some of the biggest names in global athletics, this summer will see British Athletics working closely with partnering organisations across a number of initiatives for its Festival of Athletics.
Testing their speeds on the Tumbleator today were the aforementioned British trio, with all three athletes being confirmed as part of the line-up for the even at the London Stadium on July 20-21.
Joining them on the Tumbleator were schoolchildren from schools in both Stratford itself and Hackney, as well as student athletes from Track Academy. Also in attendance was former British athlete and founder of Track Academy Connie Henry, as well as Couch to 5k celebrity ambassador and official British Athletics Ambassador for July’s Couch to 5k, Nell McAndrew.
The Festival of Athletics will see a host of activity taking place across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this summer all centred around the Müller Anniversary Games, including:
Track Academy, Official Charity Partner
Track Academy have recently been confirmed as Official Charity Partner to the 2019 Müller Anniversary Games, and we are delighted that as part of the relationship between British Athletics, the Müller Anniversary Games and Track Academy, the charity will receive donations from ticket purchasers who will have the opportunity to donate £0.25, £0.50 or £1.00 at point of ticket confirmation for the Müller Anniversary Games. More information is available here.
Couch to 5K
As part of the Festival of Athletics on the morning of 21st July at the London Stadium, British Athletics will be running a Couch to 5K event at the Müller Anniversary Games. Entries for the Couch to 5K will be live from tomorrow (May 24), with the all-female mass run beginning at 09:45 before ending on the track inside the London Stadium. All entrants will receive a free ticket to the second and final day of the Müller Anniversary Games and the opportunity for families of runners to purchase tickets at the priority price point, while the first 2,000 women who register are guaranteed a place in the Couch to 5k, so get moving!
London Boroughs: Connect Relays
British Athletics will also be working with London boroughs to engage communities across the capital to engage in athletics for a relay competition between the 32 London boroughs with top teams lining up to compete in the Muller Anniversary Games.
Two-time Paralympic T44 100m champion Jonnie Peacock said:
“The Müller Anniversary Games provides the chance for fans to see the best athletes in the world compete on the same stage, in a stadium with such great memories for the nation.
“The event is vitally important for athletes ahead of a busy end to the year with the World Para Athletics Championships and I can’t wait to race again in front of what is always an outstanding British crowd.
“We’ve had so much fun today showing these young people how much fun athletics can be, and what a setting to do it next to the London Stadium.”
The Müller Anniversary Games has seen history made on numerous occasions in recent years, with some memorable performances from British names such as Sir Mo Farah, Laura Muir and Asher-Smith, while para athletics stars Kare Adenegan and Sophie Hahn both broke world records there in 2018.
Former British athlete from Croydon and current Equality, Diversity & Engagement Lead at British Athletics, Donna Fraser said:
“The Festival Athletics will see the ultimate celebration of athletics for communities in London this summer, with the pinnacle being the Müller Anniversary Games in July.
“Athletics is the perfect family sport for spectators and participants. This is one of the many reasons athletes enjoy competing at the Müller Anniversary Games so much because as well as having world-class athletics on show, we see first-hand how accessible and inclusive the sport is. With so much going on across the weekend of 20-21 July, it’s a great chance for the public to enjoy the sport in different ways.”
Lyn Garner, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, said:
“What better inspiration can there be for local youngsters and their families to get to use the amazing facilities in the London Stadium and to be inspired by seeing the world’s best athletes in action? It promises to be an amazing summer of athletics for people of all abilities.”
