USA to compete at Kelvin Hall
DOUG GILLON, Athletics Correspondent November 09 2006
The USA will return to Glasgow in January as Britain’s indoor athletics opponents for the first time in 13 years.
UK Athletics confirmed yesterday that the Americans will compete in the Norwich Union International on January 27 against Britain, Germany, Sweden, and a Commonwealth Select.
The Kelvin Hall is guaranteed to sell out the 4000 tickets which went on sale yesterday.
With the city also hosting its first outdoor grand prix at Scotstoun in the summer, it will present two major opportunities for Glasgow to showcase major events abilities ahead of the Commonwealth Games vote next November.
The US have been frequent outdoor opposition in Glasgow, but next summer’s Scotstoun event has switched from an international match to a grand prix.
“We wanted to keep the US connection intact,” said Andrew Wallace of promoters Fast Track. “The US team will be the strongest they can field at that time of the year.”
Britain should have a full-strength team, for an intense domestic season is in prospect with Birmingham hosting the European Indoor Champion-ships at the beginning of March.
Tickets for the final session there have been sold out for more than a month.
The US won the Glasgow indoor match convincingly in 1991, but on their next and last visit, a team virtually devoid of stars was beaten in both men’s and women’s contests.
The promoters will need to ensure a more meaningful encounter this time. The sponsors are entitled to be demanding. Norwich Union are putting £50m into athletics between now and 2012, Britain’s most lucrative sponsorship outside football, while Event Scotland are also helping bankroll the meeting as part of their major events strategy which includes supporting the 2014 bid. Fast Track are also advising the city on the Games bid.
In 1994, Britain fielded seven of their eight World Championship medallists from the previous year, but the current generation won only three medals at last year’s World Championships in Helsinki. The US returned from both the 2004 Olympics and last year’s world event with 25 medals.
It is too early for team information, but the European long jump silver medallist, Greg Rutherford, yesterday declared himself available for Glasgow. The 19-year-old Geordie came within a centimetre of Chris Tomlinson’s UK record (8.27 metres) in July, but believes he can go beyond 8.40m if he gets everything right.
“I do feel that there is more to come, and it is vital that I don’t rest on my laurels in 2007,” said Rutherford. "That’s why the UK indoor season is so important for me and . . . I’ll use the series as the springboard to the European indoors.
“I believe I can medal at those championships. Indeed, I see no reason why I should not be aiming for gold. I know from my performance in Gothenburg that I can be among the best in Europe.”
Tickets for the Glasgow match are available by phone: 0870 402 8000 or online, visit www.ukathletics.net