Latest news with #AthleticVentures
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Seb Coe warns Great Britain will face tough competition to host World Athletic Championship after Keir Starmer backed bid
Seb Coe has warned Great Britain faces stiff competition to host the World Athletic Championships in 2029 with rival interest from major cities in different continents. Athletic Ventures formally announced the UK bid on Saturday with the backing of Prime Minister Keir Starmer who said: 'Bringing the championships to the UK would be a moment of great national pride.' In his capacity as President of World Athletics, Coe acknowledged the strengths of a British bid but stressed there would be other strong contenders before the decision is made at the end of next year. 'London has some very clear and obvious assets. We are an athletics-loving nation and people turn up. But it will be competitive. There are a lot of good cities out there,' he said. 'I'm not going to give a list of runners and riders but there are cities who have already expressed an interest and are engaging with us. The process has been more interactive than it used to be. 'In the old days, you would sit there waiting for a federation to raise its hands. There is a much more strategic approach now. Instead of us sitting there saying waiting to see which Federations raise their hands, we look at the types of markets we need to access and use them to invigorate the sport in various parts of the world. 'We are reaching out as much as we are being approached. I'm not going to be choosing winners or losers now.' Jon Ridgeon, CEO of World Athletics, added: 'We can say we have got bidding cities from multiple continents. When you get a mega-property like the world championships, demand is going up.' The 2012 Olympic Stadium in London also hosted the World Athletics Championships to great success in 2017. On Saturday, 60,000 tickets were sold for a star-studded Diamond League meeting which also saw Great Britain's 4x400metres relay team from the 1997 Athens world championships belatedly handed their gold medals having initially finished second in the race but then upgraded because Antonio Pettigrew from the US team was later found guilty of drugs offences. Starmer has pledged to match 'considerable funding' from potential partners to help Britain stage the 2029 championships in London, and Paralympic championships in a different British city. 'The events would provide a boost for UK businesses and support jobs and well as bring our communities together. I am delighted to support the bid,' he said. Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics, said: 'We would like to thank the Government for supporting these bids. Staging this events in the UK will not only inspire today's elite athletes, but those of tomorrow, and engage millions in our sport.' Helping to choose the site of the 2029 games will be one of the last major jobs for Coe before he leaves the Presidency in 2027. He is already helping Manchester United chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe with his plans to build a new stadium on the current Old Trafford site. Coe was one of Britain's greatest-ever sportsmen, winning gold medals in two Olympic Games, before embarking on a career in administration and heading up organisation of the 2012 London Olympics.
The Sun
19-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Premier League stadium in frame to host huge summer sporting event as government back UK bid to host
WEST HAM's London Stadium has been given the green light to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships. The 60,000-seater East London arena – which held the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012 – staged the flagship event of track-and-field in 2017. 4 4 And Prime Minister Keir Starmer has given the go-ahead for £45million investment to go towards the delivery of the Worlds in four years' time. An official bid will now be submitted by the Athletic Ventures company to World Athletics before the end of September and a decision on the hosts will be made at the back-end of 2026. Tokyo is the destination for the 2025 Worlds while Beijing is earmarked for 2027. The 2029 World Para Athletics Championships – which is also part of the prospective bid – will not happen in the capital and is likely to take place in either Birmingham or Glasgow. The Government threw its full support behind the bid, claiming it would boost the UK economy. Starmer said: 'Bringing the World Athletics Championships to the UK would be a moment of great national pride, building on our global reputation for hosting memorable sporting events that showcase the very best talent. 'Hosting these championships would not only unlock opportunities for UK athletes but it would inspire the next generation to get involved and pursue their ambitions. 'The event would provide a boost for UK businesses and support jobs as well as bring our communities together. I'm delighted to support the bid.' 4 The Hammers have played Premier League football at the stadium since decamping from the demolished Upton Park in 2017. Seb Coe – World Athletics chief since 2015 – will make the call alongside other Council members in Monaco next year. Yet Britain's double Olympic 1500 metres champion warned that it would be a 'competitive' process and gave no guarantees, despite his nationality and past connection to Team GB, that London would be successful. Coe, 68, said: 'We are starting the process now. It is officially open. It will be competitive. There are a lot of good cities out there. 'The bidding process has been more interactive than it used to be. In the old days, you would sit there waiting for a federation to raise its hands. 4 'We are actually now looking at where do we need to be strategically? What are the things we are trying to achieve? 'There is a much more strategic approach to this and instead of just sitting there saying Federation A, B or C fancies staging a world championships. 'We look at where we need to be and the types of markets we need to access and use them to invigorate the sport, maybe in various parts of the world. 'I'm not going to be choosing winners or losers now but London has some very clear and obvious assets. We are an athletics-loving nation and people turn up.'
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Novuna partners with Athletic Ventures to sponsor UK athletics events
UK financial services brand Novuna has announced a partnership with Athletic Ventures as the Title Partner for athletics events, including the Great Britain & Northern Ireland (GB & NI) team. The multi-year agreement marks Novuna's first major sports sponsorship. The partnership with Athletic Ventures, a joint venture between UK Athletics, London Marathon Events, and The Great Run Company, positions Novuna as the Title Partner for the Novuna London Athletics Meet, Novuna UK Athletics Championships, and Novuna UK Athletics Indoor Championships. Novuna will also sponsor the GB & NI team at the European and World Championships. The financial services provider will be the first commercial brand to appear on the official GB & NI team kit. Novuna chief marketing officer Theresa Lindsay said: 'This partnership is about more than visibility. It is about connecting with people through the raw energy and emotion of live sport. 'Athletics in the UK is entering an exciting new era, and we're proud to be part of that journey, supporting world-class athletes whose dedication, teamwork and drive mirror the way we approach everything we do.' The partnership will involve a full rebrand of the events, with Novuna integrated into broadcast and digital platforms, in-stadium activations, and visual identities. In addition, its brand purpose of championing British athletes, supporting local communities, and fostering innovation will be showcased through this partnership. UK Athletics chief executive Jack Buckner said: 'This is a transformative moment for athletics in the UK with this new partnership between Athletic Ventures and Novuna. We have been working hard to turn things around and lay the foundations for sustainable success. This partnership is a powerful endorsement of the athletes, coaches, clubs and fans who make athletics so successful. 'Novuna is an ambitious, impressive and collaborative brand that shares our belief in the power of athletics to inspire, unite and thrive. Together, we will be working to build a unique partnership from the playground to the podium.' The first event under this agreement, the Novuna London Athletics Meet, will take place on 19 July at the London Stadium. Mitsubishi HC Capital UK, operating under the Novuna brand, recently reported a financial performance with record new business levels at £4.65bn ($6.32bn) for the year ending 31 March 2025. Despite a 9.6% dip in pre-tax profit to £120.6m, net earning assets rose to £8.6bn, reflecting a strong asset base and prudent growth strategy. "Novuna partners with Athletic Ventures to sponsor UK athletics events " was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wiltshire athletes join sporting legends in World Championships plea
Danny Talbot has joined calls to bring one of the world's biggest sporting events back to UK (Image: Andy Lyons) Two British athletes are among sporting legends urging the Prime Minister to support a bid to host the World Athletics Championships in London in 2029. Trowbridge's Danny Talbot and Dai Greene, both former World Championship gold medallists, have joined more than 100 sports figures in signing an open letter calling on the Government to back the bid. Advertisement The letter forms part of the London 2029 campaign, led by Athletic Ventures—a partnership between UK Athletics, London Marathon Events, and the Great Run Company. Read more: Investigation as 'hay bales set on fire' Other signatories include Sir Mo Farah, Keely Hodgkinson, Dame Kelly Holmes, Jonathan Edwards, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Dina Asher-Smith, and Daley Thompson. Jack Buckner, chief executive of UK Athletics and co-founder of Athletic Ventures, said: "It shows that athletes know more than anyone else the value of a major sporting event on home soil and what it means. "We have the chance to deliver a World Championships that lifts the nation, inspires the next generation, and showcases Britain at its very best. Advertisement "We're ready. Now we need the Government to stand with us." The proposed Championship would take place at London Stadium, with organisers seeking a single year of public funding in 2028 estimated at £45 million. The bid projects an economic boost of more than £400 million for the UK. The 2029 bid process will begin this summer, and organisers are urging the Government to commit in the coming weeks to strengthen the UK's chances of success. Hugh Brasher, event director of the London Marathon and co-founder of Athletic Ventures, said: "This is the moment to deliver something extraordinary. Advertisement "London 2029 is not a risk; it's about return on investment for the UK. "With government support in 2028, we will deliver the greatest World Championships yet: commercially robust, community powered, and globally resonant. "It is set to deliver more than £400 million in economic and community impact across the UK. "The time to act is now." Read more: Next phase of huge 1,000-strong housing development on the way Athletics has seen renewed momentum in the UK, with Great Britain achieving its best Olympic medal tally in four decades at the Paris Games last year. London's Diamond League meeting recently sold out in record time, and Birmingham is set to host next year's European Athletics Championships. Grassroots interest remains high, with a record 1.1 million people applying to take part in next year's London Marathon.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Katarina Johnson-Thompson urging government to back London 2029 World Championships bid
Katarina Johnson-Thompson has called on the Prime Minister to back a bid to bring one of the world's biggest sporting events back to the United Kingdom. The Liverpool star, who won Olympic heptathlon silver in Paris last summer, is among the signatories in a powerful open letter calling on ministers to bring the World Athletics Championships to London in 2029. Advertisement Also joining the list of more than 100 supporters are fellow Liverpool athletes Anyika Onuora and Michael Rimmer, plus the likes of Sir Mo Farah, Keely Hodgkinson, Dame Kelly Holmes, Jonathan Edwards, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Paula Radcliffe, Dina Asher-Smith and Daley Thompson — a cross-generational group of sporting legends united in their belief that this is a rare opportunity to inspire the nation, foster unity and create a lasting legacy. The involvement of the athletes lends additional support to the London 2029 campaign, spearheaded by Athletic Ventures — a collaboration between UK Athletics, London Marathon Events and the Great Run Company. READ MORE: Florian Wirtz to Liverpool transfer twist as Bayer Leverkusen rival says 'we are looking into it' READ MORE: Darwin Nunez Liverpool transfer door opens for huge move after Victor Osimhen response -Credit:PA The bid outlines plans for a world-class Championships at the London Stadium, calling for just one year of public funding in 2028, estimated at £45m, and projecting a national economic boost of over £400 million. Advertisement 'I'm delighted that these athletes have put their support behind this letter," said Jack Buckner, UK Athletics chief executive and co-founder of Athletic Ventures. "It shows that athletes know more than anyone else the value of a major sporting event on home soil and what it means. 'We know what home support can achieve and when our greatest athletes from past and present are unified with one message, their call should not be ignored. This is a bid rooted in credibility and ambition. 'Bringing the World Athletics Championships to the UK will have a huge impact on an entire sport. Everything from the massive boost in participation for local athletics clubs, to the opportunity for Liverpool to host teams from across the world as they finalise their preparations in training camps. Advertisement 'We have the chance to deliver a World Championships that lifts the nation, inspires the next generation, and showcases Britain at its very best. We're ready. Now we need the government to stand with us." The 2029 bid process is due to commence this summer, with organisers urging ministers to commit in the coming weeks to secure the Championships for the UK. Great Britain won 10 athletics medals at last year's Paris Olympics, their best return in four decades. London's Diamond League meeting is established as the biggest in the world, selling out in record time last week, while Birmingham will host next year's European Championships. And to underline the sport's grassroots appeal, a record-breaking 1.1 million people have applied to run in next year's London Marathon. Advertisement 'This is the moment to deliver something extraordinary,' said Hugh Brasher, event director of the London Marathon and co-founder of Athletic Ventures. 'London 2029 is not a risk; it's about return on investment for the UK. Generations of athletes know the inspirational power of a home Championships but this is about more than medals. It's a vision for what this country can achieve. 'With government support in 2028, we will deliver the greatest World Championships yet: commercially robust, community powered, and globally resonant. It is set to deliver more than £400 million in economic and community impact across the UK. The time to act is now.'
