Officials from America have visited Birmingham to discuss the details for a proposed training camp for athletes, which would be based in the city in July 2017.
They visited various sites across the city on 27th October, including the Birmingham High Performance Centre and Alexander Stadium, which is where the US athletes would finalise their preparations for next August’s IAAF World Championships in London.
They also met with representatives from Birmingham City Council, who are coordinating arrangements for the camp.
If the camp is confirmed, Birmingham will become a second home for American athletes over the next 18 months, as some prepare to compete at the Muller Indoor Grand Prix on 18th February and others at the Muller Grand Prix at the Alexander Stadium on 20th August.
Duffy Mahoney, Chief of Sport Performance for USA Track and Field, led the delegation. He said:
“It’s great to be back in Birmingham and we’ve had some very productive meetings over the last couple of days.
“We know that Birmingham has excellent sports facilities and is extremely experienced when it comes to looking after elite athletes, so I’m sure that we would receive the best possible support for our team. We feel we’re very close to agreeing a contract.”
As well as visiting the proposed training facilities, accommodation for the athletes, coaches and support staff was also discussed. The delegation met with senior representatives from the council, including Deputy Leader, Councillor Ian Ward, who said: “It was a pleasure to welcome USA Track and Field back to Birmingham.
“Once all the details are agreed, we’ll also look at how we can make the most of having the global stars of athletics staying in Birmingham, and use this as an opportunity to inspire young people in the city to reach their own sporting potential.”
Many athletes and support staff will return to the city again in March 2018, for the IAAF World Indoor Championships, which will be held at Birmingham’s indoor arena.