Latest news with #DameKellyHolmes
Independent Singapore
6 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
UK Athletes supports having World Athletic Championships in London in 2029, urges the government to take action
Great Britain's most successful athletes have signed a joint letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to urge the UK Government to support a bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships in London. Over 100 Olympic champions, global medallists, rising stars, and prominent personalities supported the proposal. Together, the final signatories represent over 750 medals won at international competitions–more than 300 of these were gold medals. The athletes are calling for the event to be held once again at the London Stadium, which was the location of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as the 2017 World Championships. Athletes who signed include iconic names such as Sir Mo Farah, Dame Kelly Holmes, Jonathan Edwards, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Paula Radcliffe, Dina Asher-Smith, and Daley Thompson. The 2029 Bid The athletes' support added a significant impact to the London 2029 campaign, which was spearheaded by Athletic Ventures, in collaboration with UK Athletics, London Marathon Events, and the Great Run Company. The bid has plans for a world-class championship at the London Stadium, and it was supported by a one-time public investment of £45 million in 2028. Furthermore, a feasibility study estimates the event could deliver over £400 million in economic and social benefits. Hugh Brasher, the event director of the London Marathon and the co-founder of Athletic Ventures, admitted: 'This is the moment to deliver something extraordinary… 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.' He added: '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 athletes were aware that without enough support from the government, the opportunity to host could be lost. Therefore, the open letter emphasizes that these kinds of events offer a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience for both athletes and fans that will surely leave a legacy. Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics and co-founder of Athletic Ventures, declared: 'This is a bid rooted in credibility and ambition… 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.' Here is the full list of the people who signed the release: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Eugene Amo-Dadzie, Amber Anning, Dina Asher-Smith MBE, Jeremiah Azu, Steve Backley MBE, David Bedford OBE, Roger Black MBE, Tom Bosworth MBE, Joe Brier, Darren Campbell MBE, Taylor Campbell, Alastair Chalmers, Melissa Courtney-Bryant, Steve Cram CBE, Linford Christie OBE, Lynn Davies CBE, Charlie Dobson, Eilidh Doyle, Jonathan Edwards CBE, Hannah England, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Sir Mo Farah, Jacob Fincham-Dukes, Innes FitzGerald, Sir Brendan Foster, Jason Gardener MBE, Phoebe Gill, Neil Gourley, Robbie Grabarz, Dai Greene, Sally Gunnell OBE, Toby Harries, David Hemery CBE, Louie Hinchliffe, Sophie Hitchon, Keely Hodgkinson MBE, Dame Kelly Holmes, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Zharnel Hughes, Georgia Hunter Bell, Tim Hutchings, Colin Jackson CBE, Katarina Johnson-Thompson MBE, Hannah Kelly, Josh Kerr, Richard Kilty, Morgan Lake, Imani- Lara Lansiquot, Dame Denise Lewis, Mark Lewis-Francis MBE, Scott Lincoln, Christian Malcolm, Eamonn Martin, Jenny Meadows, Kissiwaa Mensah, Eilish McColgan, Liz McColgan MBE, Katharine Merry, George Mills, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, David Moorcroft OBE, Laura Muir, Ashleigh Nelson, Laviai Nielsen, Lina Nielsen, Daryll Neita, Jade O'Dowda, Christine Ohuruogu MBE, Victoria Ohuruogu, Lawrence Okoye, Anyika Onuora, Alan Pascoe MBE, Ben Pattison, Jo Pavey MBE, Asha Philip, Andrew Pozzi, Reece Prescod, Charlotte Purdue, Paula Radcliffe MBE, Sam Reardon, Jemma Reekie, Michael Rimmer, Martyn Rooney, Greg Rutherford MBE, Tessa Sanderson CBE, Goldie Sayers, Wendy Sly MBE, Katie Snowden, Kelly Sotherton MBE, Andrew Steele, Danny Talbot, Iwan Thomas MBE, Chris Thompson, Daley Thompson CBE, Andy Turner, Laura Turner-Alleyne, Steph Twell, Lorraine Ugen, Laura Weightman, and Jake Wightman.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Athletes urge PM to back London 2029 World Championships bid
More than 100 of Britain's most renowned athletes have written an open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging the government to back London's bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Mo Farah, Keely Hodgkinson, Dame Kelly Holmes, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Daley Thompson are among the athletes, past and present, to sign the bid proposal, if successful, would see the World Championships held at London Stadium, and require a "one-off injection of public funding in 2028" with the promise of "£400m in national economic impact"."Hosting in 2029 would bring the world's best athletes back to British soil but more importantly, it would inspire a new generation to get involved in the most diverse and inclusive sport there is," the letter read."Some of us were lucky enough to experience a home crowd at London 2012 and 2017. Some of us volunteered, others were in the stands. All of us were inspired."That spark set many of us on our journeys, just as it did for so many thousands of other young people who've gone on to join clubs, coach, officiate, or simply fall in love with athletics."The 2029 bid process is due to begin this summer, with organisers urging ministers to commit to securing the World Championships for the UK in the coming also hosted the Championships when they were last held in the UK in 2017.
The Independent
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations might be ‘last chance to thank veterans'
People are being urged to host celebrations for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day in what might be 'our last chance to thank surviving veterans'. May 8 marks the date in 1945 when the Allies accepted Germany's surrender in the Second World War, ending almost six years of conflict in Europe. Community celebrations will be led by the Together Coalition, a group of businesses and individuals, as part of the UK Government's national programme to commemorate the 80th anniversaries of both VE Day in May and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day on August 15. Events will include the Great British Food Festival on May 5, when street parties, picnics and barbecues will take place across the country on the Monday bank holiday, reflecting the celebrations that broke out across the nation 80 years ago. There will also be a VE Day Schools Challenge, where the Together Coalition and the Royal British Legion are asking pupils to learn about the significance of the anniversary. Launching the countdown, TV presenter and actor Ross Kemp and Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes visited Hermitage Primary School in Tower Hamlets, east London, where they shared food with the pupils and talked about the values that helped communities contribute to the war victory. EastEnders star Kemp said: 'VE Day marks a major moment in our history – when Britain helped defeat the forces of fascism and protect our democracy. 'Taking part is an opportunity for us all to honour those who sacrificed so much, to reconnect with our neighbours and communities, and to remember the values that underpinned the victory. 'They matter as much today as they did then. 'This might be our last chance to thank the surviving veterans – so we should celebrate them in style.' Dame Kelly said: 'Moments like this matter, they bring us together as a country and remind us of the freedoms we sometimes take for granted. 'They also give us an opportunity to thank everyone who contributed to the victory from the UK and across the Commonwealth.'
