Birmingham joins the running to stage world half-marathon

Jan 17 2008 By Leon Hickman, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM could bid to host the world half-marathon championships in September next year.

The city council have let UK Athletics know they would be keen to host the event and now the sport's governing body are considering whether to apply to the international federation, the IAAF.

Birmingham recently announced it was to hold a half-marathon on Sunday, September 7, starting at Alexander Stadium with the finish in Centenary Square.

This could amount to a dry run for the world championships a year later.

However, even if the IAAF award the 2009 race to Britain, UK Athletics might feel the bid-ding should be open for competition among cities.

The course is still being finalised for next September's race which directly clashes with the Wolverhampton marathon.

Both sets of organisers meet next week when strong words may be spoken.

These would not be half as bitter as those between the organ-isers of the Great North Run and Birmingham should their 2009 dates be close, which seems possible.

The BBC, who make a big fuss of Brendan Foster's event, would have something to say as well.

Foster might well have expected to be involved in the first Birmingham race as his company, Nova International, manage events all over Britain.

But a Birmingham source said today the city believes they have more than enough expertise to organise their own half-marathon.