[Source: Glasgow Life] British Athletics has today confirmed Glasgow as the host city for the 2020 British Indoor Season, with TWO major events being staged at the Emirates Arena in February.

The events will mark the start of the 2020 competition countdown to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. World class athletes will compete at Emirates Arena for the Müller Indoor Grand Prix on 15 February 2020, before the city hosts the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships for the first time ever between 22-23 February 2020, as athletes bid to qualify for March’s IAAF World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China.

The Müller Indoor Grand Prix is the number one ranked Indoor meet in the world as the planet’s best athletes arrive in the city for an incredible afternoon of world-class sport.

Major Events Director for British Athletics, Cherry Alexander OBE, says Glasgow is the perfect venue for the 2020 Indoor Season: “The Müller Indoor Grand Prix will be best indoor event ever staged in Scotland, with athletics fans in for a treat as world stars come to town. Olympic and Paralympic year is always very special and I am sure that the atmosphere will be amazing at Emirates Arena.

“Staging the British Athletics Indoor Season in Glasgow truly reflects the UK-wide interest in our sport and I am proud that we are taking the SPAR British Indoor Championships to Scotland for the first time – it is long overdue. This announcement demonstrates the strength of collaboration between British Athletics and our home nations athletics partners”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “Scotland is the perfect stage for events and I’m delighted Glasgow has been chosen to host this historic double-header. The city has a proud history of hosting athletics events as shown by the successful delivery of this year’s European Athletics Indoor Championships.

“Events play a key role in our visitor economy and these two outstanding athletics events in Glasgow next February reaffirms the Scotland’s position as a world-leading events destination.”

Billy Garrett, Director of Sport and Events at Glasgow Life said: “Glasgow is one of the world’s top five sporting cities and we’re proud to be the first Scottish host of the SPAR British Indoor Championships, as well as welcoming back the Müller Indoor Grand Prix to the city once again.

“Major events have a track record in getting more people, young and old, interested in sport and, as a city with a history of providing a strong legacy from sporting events, we have no doubt that these February 2020 events will have just as positive an impact.”

Guy Learmonth, Scottish and Great British Athlete, said: “It’s incredible – for British Athletics to share the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships across the UK, and to bring it to Glasgow for the first time, it’s massive for Scottish athletes and for the fans. With the Müller Indoor Grand Prix as well, crowds are going to see world-class athletics over back-to-back weekends.

“2020 will be such an important year with the Olympics, so to have these events in Scotland act as a springboard for the IAAF World Indoor Championships and for Tokyo as well, it’s just such a good feeling. It’s back home, on my doorstep, so for Scottish Athletics and for Scotland to have this all here – we’ll all step up our game.

“I’ve won two British indoor titles – adding a third on home soil would be huge”.

Ahead of the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Glasgow and SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships heading to Glasgow on 15 February and 22-23 February respectively, fans can register for news updates and ticketing information by signing up to the British Athletics mailing list via www.britishathletics.org.uk/events-and-tickets/2020-event-registration.