National championships back to Sportcity next year due to redevelopment at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium

The British Athletics Championships is returning to Sportcity in Manchester for the first time since 2007. Recent years have seen the event staged at the Alexander Stadium but the Birmingham venue is undergoing redevelopment ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

A three-year deal means athletes will be competing in Manchester for British titles and team places at the Tokyo Olympics next year 2020, the IAAF World Championships Eugene 2021 and European Championships in 2022.

Manchester previously hosted the British Championships between 2005-2007 and when the event was last staged in the north-west city 12 years ago the event was sponsored by Norwich Union and saw Jessica Ennis-Hill score a rare sprint hurdles and high jump double while Marlon Devonish stormed to a sprint double.

British Athletics major events director Cherry Alexander says: “It’s brilliant to be returning to Manchester with our British Championships from 2020. The sport has enjoyed some iconic moments at the facility and we have wonderful memories of our athletes warming up for their Commonwealth Games races on that very track.

“We’ve had great experience working with the venue in previous years, not just from our Championships but also in their staging of the Manchester International in last few years. The City is investing in the sport and the venue and I’m looking forward to working with them to help grow the audience further.”