Birmingham stadium closure forces local athletes to train elsewhere

Efe-Okoro

Athletes are upset at being forced to find a new base after the early closure of Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

A planned reconstruction is now behind schedule due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

And Birchfield Harriers athletes, who have used the stadium since it was opened in 1976, are having to make do with limited facilities elsewhere.

“Sometimes we haven’t even had hurdles to jump over,” converted 400m hurdler Efe Okoro told BBC Radio WM.

“For the people who can drive, we’ve been having to go to places like Stafford and Redditch to run and train.

“It’s becoming a bit challenging. We’re having to think outside the box. We’re even having to imagine we have hurdles to jump over.”

Announcing the decision last week, a Birmingham City Council statement said: “We know that this will be disappointing, but the health and safety of site visitors are of paramount importance.

“Every effort is being made to work with existing users, in particular Birchfield Harriers, to identify alternative provision.”

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