Fire delays start of British Indoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham
A fire has delayed the start of the British Indoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
The Utilita Arena had to be evacuated after the incident on Saturday morning, around 90 minutes before the first event was due to start.
British Athletics said in a statement: 'The start of the 2025 Microplus UK Athletics Indoor Championships has been delayed by one hour, following an incident that required the evacuation of the Utilita Arena in Birmingham this morning, Saturday 22 February.
The start of the 2025 Microplus UK Athletics Indoor Championships has been delayed by one hour, following an incident that required the evacuation of the Utilita Arena in Birmingham this morning, Saturday 22 February.
(1/3) pic.twitter.com/5g5ex1ks2Q
— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) February 22, 2025
'A one-hour delay to the timetable has been agreed in order to give athletes, officials and spectators adequate time to prepare for the day's events.'
Former Olympian Katharine Merry wrote on X: 'Not made it into the Utilita Arena yet. It's been fully evacuated due to a fire. Fire brigade here and smoke coming from the top floor.'
She added a few minutes later: 'The British Indoor Champs will be going ahead today after a fire in a kitchen. Just now need to clear the water.'
Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Laura Muir are among the star names competing this weekend.
The event is also being used as the British trials for the European Athletics Indoor Championships, which take place in the Netherlands next month.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
30 minutes ago
A year after playoff loss, Lexi Thompson back in contention at Meijer LPGA Classic
BELMONT, Mich. -- Lexi Thompson was back in contention going into the weekend in her beloved Meijer LPGA Classic, a year after a playoff loss at Blythefield County Club. Making her sixth start of the season in a part-time tour schedule, Thompson birdied three of the last four holes in breezy afternoon conditions for a 3-under 69 and a 7-under total. The 2015 winner at Blythefield was a stroke behind leaders Karis Davidson, Carlota Ciganda, Hye-Jin Choi and Celine Boutier. 'The golf course is one thing. It's always in great shape for us, which we always look forward to," Thompson said after the bogey-free round on the tree-lined layout. "But the amount of support that the tournament gets and also how Meijer gives back to the community as well. It's not just a tournament. It's much bigger than that.' The 30-year-old from Florida won the last of her 11 LPGA Tour titles in 2019. 'Some days are harder than others and we get frustrated, but at the end of the day it is just golf,' said Thompson, also set to play next week in the major KPMG Women's PGA Championship in Texas. Davidson, playing in the second-to-last group off the first tee, birdied the par-4 16th and par-5 18th for a 70. 'We just really hung in there today,' Davidson said. 'Was a bit of a grind, and nice to get the couple birdies at the end.' Ciganda and Choi each shot 67, and Boutier had a 68, all playing the morning session. "Coming here the week before a major obviously gives you confidence for playing next week," Ciganda said. 'The course is one that I like. I enjoy coming here, and it's always fun playing in Grand Rapids.' Thompson was joined at 7 under by Nanna Koerstz Madsen (68), Amanda Doherty (69), Bronte Law (69), Minjee Lee (70) and Sofia Garcia (71). Grace Kim, also part of the playoff last year that Lilia Vu won, was 6 under after a 73. She bogeyed two of her last three holes to fall out of a tie for the lead. Mi Hyang Lee, the first-round leader after a 64, had a 75 to drop to 5 under. With the major days away at PGA Frisco, only three of the top 10 in the world are at Blythefield. Haeran Ryu, at No. 5 the highest-ranked player in the field, followed an opening 69 with a 74 to make the cut on the number at 1 under. Vu missed the cut with rounds of 77 and 75.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lexi Thompson just one off the lead at Meijer LPGA Classic after stellar finish
BELMONT - As Lexi Thompson's approach on 18 landed and found the green, Thompson did something she hadn't for most of her round - she smiled. It was a moment of triumph and relief for Thompson, who birdied 18 and had three birdies in her final four holes to pull within one shot of the lead heading into the weekend at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give at Blythefield Country Club. Advertisement Thompson, who birdied the first hole on Friday, June 13, had one bogey and 12 pars in the next 13 holes before finishing strong. She had a 3-under Friday and is at 7-under heading into the weekend one shot off the lead shared by four golfers. "I started off well, then kind of fizzled a little bit. I just tried to stay positive. I wanted to get seven birdie looks in the last seven holes, and unfortunately, they were longer looks than I wanted, but ended up with a few birdies coming in," Thompson said. "My first birdie coming in on 15, I ended up making a put off the collar that I wasn't really expecting, down the hill right to left. I was just trying to par, but I really just wanted to stay confident over the last couple of holes coming in. "There were a few par saves that were important to keep me in it. Just staying patient out there because it got really windy. You have to know birdie holes are out there." More: Four eagles crowd leaderboard at Meijer LPGA Classic; Lexi Thompson in mix Advertisement More: Daughter of Michigan State coach makes LPGA debut at Meijer as Monday-qualifier Thompson won this event in 2015 and has been in contention nearly every year at Blythefield. She finished second last year at 16-under. In the 10 Meijer LPGA Classics she has played in, she has finished second three times, in the top five a total of five times and in the top 10 six times. She finished 20th once (despite shooting 15-under), 41st (her first time at Blythefield) once and missed the cut once. No one has had that kind of extended success at Blythefield except Thompson, despite two wins for Brooke Henderson and a spectacular three-year stretch for Leona Maguire. Thompson has been in contention eight of 10 times she has played the course. Lexi Thompson looks down the fairway after driving the golf ball during the second day of the LPGA Classic on June 13. And after two rounds this year, she is in contention again for the 11th time. Advertisement "It is an amazing tournament in general. We always look forward to coming back here. The golf course is always in great shape. The way the community gets behind the tournament and gives back, that is what we really like about it. It is not just a golf tournament," Thompson said. Morning an advantage again at Meijer LPGA Classic The first round saw an 8-under, 7-under and several bunched in the 6-5-4-under range, bunching the leaderboard. Four players in the top 10 registered eagles in the opening round. It wasn't eagles, but birdies difficult to come by in the second round in the afternoon especially. Advertisement Those birdies that generally come a little easier at Blythefield Country Club. A few players who teed off early in the morning had a string of birdies, but it was not the same in the afternoon. Carlota Ciganda had seven birdies in the second round in one of the early groups, but also had a couple of bogeys and finished 6-under for the round and 8-under for the tournament. Celine Boutier had a similar round with seven birdies and three bogies to finish 4-under for the day and 8-under for the tournament. Hye-Jin Choi was 4-under for the second day in a row to tie Ciganda and Boutier at 8-under. One afternoon player had a share of the lead as Karis Davidson shot a 2-under, with a birdie on 18, to share the lead at 8-under. Advertisement Nanna Koerst Madsen was one shot behind after an up-and-down round that saw her double-bogey the first hole, but then nail eight birdies to finish 6-under for the day and 7-under heading into the weekend. Contact sports editor Dan D'Addona at Dan.D'Addona@ Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Lexi Thompson one off the lead at Meijer LPGA Classic
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sir David Beckham 'incredibly humbled' by knighthood: 'I never could have imagined this...'
David Beckham has received a knighthood for services to sport and charity. The 50-year-old footballer admitted after the King's Birthday Honours were unveiled on Friday (13.05.25), and it was confirmed that he will now be known as Sir David Beckham, he has found it all to be a "truly humbling" experience. He said: "Growing up in East London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour. "To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career, and literally a boyhood dream come true." David is married to former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and has Brooklyn, 26, Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20, and 13-year-old Harper Seven with her. The Manchester United legend - whose wife will now be known as Lady Victoria Beckham - noted that while it will "take a little while" to comprehend the honour, he just wants to be able to celebrate it with his family. He said: " I've been so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I'm grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment. "It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I'm immensely proud and it's such an emotional moment for me to share with my family." In 2003, he was given an OBE by the late Queen Elizabeth for services to football. Just one day before the honour was announced, Sir David was seen chatting to King Charles at The King's Foundation Awards as part of his role as an ambassador for the monarch's foundation. The former England captain has a long history of carrying out charitable work, which Honours Committee officials will have considered before deciding to bestow him with the honour. What's more, rock star Roger Daltrey - who is best known as a member of The Who - has also received the same honour after leading the Teenage Cancer Trust concerts for more than two decades, and accepted it on behalf of all the "unsung heroes" who have a part to play in the charity. He said: "It is a wonderful honour for me and especially for Teenage Cancer Trust. I accept this award not only for myself but on behalf of all the unsung heroes who have given their energy towards making the Teenage Cancer Trust the success it has become. "The likes of The Who and their fans, Angie Jenkison, Lindsay Hughes, Des Murphy, Rob Ballantine and the late Chris York are some of many who have done so much to elevate the charity, to the point where it now has 28 specialist units in NHS hospitals across the UK." Meanwhile, Elaine Paige - who is best known for her lengthy career in musical theatre - has been awarded a Damehood for her services to music and charity and was "thrilled and surprised" when she heard about the honour. She said: "I've got all these different emotions coming at me all at once. "I'm proud and I feel grateful and I'm thrilled and surprised, and so it's been quite a lot to take in." The West End star and radio host- who made her name by starring in original London productions of Cats, Les Miserables and Evita - is a patron of The Children's Trust and The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust.
