Shanaze Gives Bidding Venues a Thumbs Up

Two-time World BMX Champion Shanaze Reade, currently out of action due to a shoulder injury, surprised young BMX riders at Birmingham BMX Club on Wednesday 3 June when she dropped in to watch their training session at Perry Park in Birmingham.

Renovation of Perry Park BMX track has begun and will continue in 2010 as British Cycling and Birmingham City Council await news on their bid to host the UEC European Championships in July 2011 at the city's BMX venue.

If successful, the bid will give a new lease of life to Perry Park BMX track and provide the city, its residents and athletes with a state of the art International BMX facility for generations to enjoy.

This bid forms part of Birmingham's new cycling strategy which also sees the city bid for the 2012 UCI BMX World Championships at the National Indoor Arena (NIA), the last major international BMX event before the London 2012 Olympics.

Holding the UEC European Championships at Perry Park in 2011 will enable the city to test the infrastructure, transport and logistics for the UCI BMX World Championships in 2012.

Shanaze commented: "It was great to check out how the reconstruction at Perry Park is coming along and I'm really looking forward to training here once the track is complete. It was brilliant to see the kids enjoying a good training session. Some of them were with their dads who used to train on the very same track when they were children. The prospect of riding the BMX World Championships here in Birmingham in 2012 is so exciting"

Ian Drake, CEO of British Cycling, said: "We are eagerly awaiting the news from UCI and UEC regarding both bids and we have created extensive plans with Birmingham to bring these prestigious international BMX competitions to the city and the UK.

"Both competitions would bring new levels of investment to the city, helping us grow the discipline in the UK, encourage more youngsters to exercise and position Birmingham as a key player in BMX in the UK."

Councillor Martin Mullaney, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture said "We are delighted to be making a joint bid with British Cycling for the UCI BMX World Championships in 2012. The event would support the city's cycling strategy and further highlight Birmingham's reputation as a world class sporting city.

"This event could bring a huge economic impact to the city and allow the people of Birmingham to watch the best BMX riders in the world just before they compete in the Olympic Games in London. The lasting legacy of this event means that new BMX facilities will be built in Birmingham and help us find the next generation of BMX riders."

Download: Press Release (Word doc 500kb)

Contact: abbyburton@britishcycling.org.uk