Over 100 of Britain's biggest athletes send powerful open letter to Keir Starmer
Mo Farah is one of GB's most iconic Olympians (Image: Getty Images)
The window to host one of the world's biggest sporting events could slam shut unless the government seize the opportunity to invest, more than 100 of Britain's most celebrated athletes have warned.
In a powerful open letter to the Prime Minister, Olympic champions, global medallists and rising stars have called on the government to back the bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships at the London Stadium with £45million of funding.
Joining the list of supporters are Sir Mo Farah, Keely Hodgkinson, Dame Kelly Holmes, Jonathan Edwards, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Paula Radcliffe, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, 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.
'This is the moment to deliver something extraordinary,' said Hugh Brasher, event director of the London Marathon and co-founder of Athletic Ventures. READ MORE: World Boxing send Imane Khelif apology after announcing sex test rule change READ MORE: Nick Kyrgios issues heartfelt apology as he reveals he WON'T be at Wimbledon
'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.'
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 ten 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.
(Image: Getty Images)
Outgoing UK Sport chair Dame Katherine Grainger recently admitted frustration at the lack of major sports events coming to the UK, which had been a legacy ambition of staging the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.
Earlier this year, it was confirmed that the men's and women's Tour de France races will both begin in Britain in 2027, while in football, the UK and Ireland are staging the 2028 men's European Championship.
"When it comes to 'mega-events', after 2028 we've got nothing secure," she said.
Sport has worked hard to protect its government funding, despite warnings from the Institute for Fiscal Studies that cuts are inevitable for 'unprotected' areas – those outside the NHS, defence and schools.
(Image: Getty Images Sport Classic)
And UK Sport have already secured a record £330m in government and National Lottery funding to support Olympic and Paralympic athletes through to the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has made no secret of his ambition to make his city the world's foremost sporting capital, with a successful 2029 event potentially crucial to his ambition to bring the Olympics back in 2024. London held the World Championships for the first time in 2017 and the event is still considered the gold standard, while it was also a huge commercial success with over 700,000 tickets sold.
'This is a bid rooted in credibility and ambition,' said Jack Buckner, UK Athletics chief executive and co-founder of Athletic Ventures. '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.
'With London 2029, 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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Hickey: I"ll get another win then bring big fight nights to Scotland
His stellar amateur career - he's one of Scotland's most successful-ever amateur boxers - gave him the perfect springboard from which to catapult into the professional ranks but even with his impressive track record, Hickey admits there's nothing quite like being in the heat of a professional fight to teach you what it feels like to be a pro boxer. 'It's when you're under the lights that you really find out what people are talking about when they're talking about the pros,' the 25-year-old says. 'The professionals is completely different to the amateurs and sometimes you need to go backwards to go forward. I had felt like I was stuck in a little bit of a rut in training but then, and I don't know why, the penny dropped and I feel like I've really pushed on recently. 'You're never going to be the complete fighter so I'm just trying to get better all the time.' Since turning professional last year, Hickey, who won Commonwealth Games gold in 2022, has impressed in his two victories to date and he's looking to continue that run this evening, when he takes on Englishman Harley Hodgetts on the undercard of the Callum Simpson vs Ivan Zucco fight. With this being the Scot's third bout in less than eight months, he's looking to add another victory to his pro record, as well as showcase what he can do in the hope of securing a slot on some big cards in the near future. I've been in the gym since my last fight so it's hard not to be in good shape when you've been training for this long,' he says. 'I want to just keep building my record and with each win, I get closer to getting these big fights that I want. I was happy with my last fight but what has really given me confidence is not necessarily the fights, it's how I've been feeling in the gym and so I'm looking forward to getting another win.' Hickey was in the crowd during Josh Taylor's defeat to Ekow Essuman last month - his third consecutive loss - and with the Dundonian touted as one of the young fighters most likely to fill the void left in Scottish boxing when Taylor ultimately retires, he's relishing the opportunity to attempt to emulate Taylor. Sam Hickey (r) alongside his coach, Rob McCracken (Image: James Chance/ Getty Images) Hickey is, however, adamant that the only person who is worthy of deciding if the former undisputed champion of the world should hang up his gloves is Taylor himself. 'During Josh's fight we saw glimpses of how good he is but I think he just got a bit tired towards the end and Ekow took over a little bit later on in the fight,' he says. 'It was sad to see him lose because he's one of the very best fighters this country has ever produced. 'It's tough to know if we will see Josh fight again because the level he has been at is so high and I can't see Josh wanting to step down the levels. 'You can't ever tell somebody they should retire and so if Josh feels like he still has the desire then I'm sure he'll be back. But it's down to him. 'Josh has done great things in this sport and he was a huge role model for me growing up. He took a lot of time out to speak to me and so I'll always be grateful for that. 'And looking forward, there's a lot of us who want to step up and follow what Josh has done.' With Hickey's three pro bouts to date having been south of the border, it's perhaps unsurprising that he's keen to fight in Scotland sooner rather than later. Having witnessed some of the shows Taylor brought to Scotland, the Dundonian is in little doubt that he wants to recreate those kind of fight night himself. 'The quicker I have some big fight nights in Scotland, the better,' he says. 'Ultimately I'd love to do what Josh ended up doing and have my own big shows in Scotland. 'Everyone I speak to in Dundee reckons I could fill a few thousand-seater already and so if I can start there, it's like a snowball and as long as you keep winning, the shows get bigger and bigger. 'The plan is to be in some good fights against some good opponents and maybe even get a title eliminator sometime soon.'
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish hotspots named among the UK's best places to retire
A number of factors were considered when curating this ranking, such as property prices, crime rates, amenities and entertainment. Glasgow and Edinburgh named among the best places to retire to in the UK Crime rates, property prices and amenities were considered when making this ranking (Image: Getty Images) Glasgow and Edinburgh, which were the only Scottish locations to be named among the best to retire to in the UK by Rest Less, were praised as "beautiful" cultural centres full of cafes, bars and museums. Discussing Scotland's capital, the website said Edinburgh has consistently ranked as one of the most desirable retirement locations in the UK, with it claiming the top spot all the way back in 2019. The research, which was undertaken by estate agent comparison site looked at where the highest proportion of retirement properties for sale were, as well as the ratio of homes to stock sold. Discussing the spot further, Rest Less dubbed it a "cosmopolitan town" with "plenty going for it." With dozens of historic sites, museums and attractions, as well as the world's largest arts festival, the city is sure to keep those in their golden years busy. However, it was noted that these "attractive points" mean house prices here are much higher than the Scottish average, standing at around £338,307. Glasgow was praised as a cheaper Scottish alternative to Edinburgh (Image: Getty Images) Glasgow, on the other hand, was celebrated as a cheaper alternative to the Scottish capital. House prices here average at around £229,959, according to the site, and while the city has had a reputation for being "rather gritty" in the past, it is now undeniably a "national hub of culture". The city is home to the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and National Theatre of Scotland, ensuring there is plenty to go and see. Last year, Glasgow was named one of the best cities to retire to because of "key factors" like its cost of living and the amenities on offer. Using these metrics, each location listed by Moneypenny was given a score. Recommended Reading: Glasgow was given a rating of 3.8, putting it above other popular retirement hotspots like Newport and Kingston upon Hull. It ranked well for its cost of living as well as the number of cafes and golf clubs around the city. The Scottish location was also praised for its great number of fitness clubs and green spaces.
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Hickey: I"ll get another win then bring big fight nights to Scotland
'It's when you're under the lights that you really find out what people are talking about when they're talking about the pros,' the 25-year-old says. 'The professionals is completely different to the amateurs and sometimes you need to go backwards to go forward. I had felt like I was stuck in a little bit of a rut in training but then, and I don't know why, the penny dropped and I feel like I've really pushed on recently. 'You're never going to be the complete fighter so I'm just trying to get better all the time.' Since turning professional last year, Hickey, who won Commonwealth Games gold in 2022, has impressed in his two victories to date and he's looking to continue that run this evening, when he takes on Englishman Harley Hodgetts on the undercard of the Callum Simpson vs Ivan Zucco fight. With this being the Scot's third bout in less than eight months, he's looking to add another victory to his pro record, as well as showcase what he can do in the hope of securing a slot on some big cards in the near future. I've been in the gym since my last fight so it's hard not to be in good shape when you've been training for this long,' he says. 'I want to just keep building my record and with each win, I get closer to getting these big fights that I want. I was happy with my last fight but what has really given me confidence is not necessarily the fights, it's how I've been feeling in the gym and so I'm looking forward to getting another win.' Hickey was in the crowd during Josh Taylor's defeat to Ekow Essuman last month - his third consecutive loss - and with the Dundonian touted as one of the young fighters most likely to fill the void left in Scottish boxing when Taylor ultimately retires, he's relishing the opportunity to attempt to emulate Taylor. Sam Hickey (r) alongside his coach, Rob McCracken (Image: James Chance/ Getty Images) Hickey is, however, adamant that the only person who is worthy of deciding if the former undisputed champion of the world should hang up his gloves is Taylor himself. 'During Josh's fight we saw glimpses of how good he is but I think he just got a bit tired towards the end and Ekow took over a little bit later on in the fight,' he says. 'It was sad to see him lose because he's one of the very best fighters this country has ever produced. 'It's tough to know if we will see Josh fight again because the level he has been at is so high and I can't see Josh wanting to step down the levels. 'You can't ever tell somebody they should retire and so if Josh feels like he still has the desire then I'm sure he'll be back. But it's down to him. 'Josh has done great things in this sport and he was a huge role model for me growing up. He took a lot of time out to speak to me and so I'll always be grateful for that. 'And looking forward, there's a lot of us who want to step up and follow what Josh has done.' With Hickey's three pro bouts to date having been south of the border, it's perhaps unsurprising that he's keen to fight in Scotland sooner rather than later. Having witnessed some of the shows Taylor brought to Scotland, the Dundonian is in little doubt that he wants to recreate those kind of fight night himself. 'The quicker I have some big fight nights in Scotland, the better,' he says. 'Ultimately I'd love to do what Josh ended up doing and have my own big shows in Scotland. 'Everyone I speak to in Dundee reckons I could fill a few thousand-seater already and so if I can start there, it's like a snowball and as long as you keep winning, the shows get bigger and bigger. 'The plan is to be in some good fights against some good opponents and maybe even get a title eliminator sometime soon.'
