Birmingham Bids for BMX World Champs

 

News Posted: 9 May 2008

 

Birmingham City Council has announced that it is putting forward a joint bid with British Cycling for the UCI BMX World Championships in 2012 - with BMX cycling set to be a discipline within the 2012 Olympic programme, this will be a high profile event. Birmingham beat off stiff competition from other British cities to win the right to bid for the event which would be staged just three months before the London Olympics.

 

Right - Shanaze Reade, racing in Birmingham in 2012?

 

The city will now work on a joint bid with the British Cycling, to convince the International Cycling Union (UCI) that the event should be staged in Britain in Olympic year. If the bid is successful, the championships will bring with it an estimated economic impact of more than £2 million with approximately 2,500 competitors from an estimated 40 countries taking part in a four day event which would be held at the National Indoor Arena.

 

Councillor Ray Hassall, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture said: "We are delighted to have been selected by British Cycling as the best British city to work with in a bid to stage these world championships. If we are successful in securing this event it will be a massive boost for the sport of cycling in Birmingham and will support the city's new cycling strategy. It will also further highlight Birmingham and Britain's sporting pedigree just ahead of the 2012 Olympics."

 

British Cycling Chief Executive Peter King said: "It's great to see Birmingham bidding to bring the BMX World Championships to the city in 2012. BMX is exciting to watch and to take part in so British Cycling is pleased to be working with Birmingham City Council to secure what could be a fantastic event for the city and for cycling."