Private race event organisers to lead 2026 Euro champs
Brum 10k and London Marathon bodies join
THE organisers of Birmingham’s 10k and half marathon and the London Marathon have joined forces to run the European Athletics Championships in the city in 2026.
The Great Run Company and London Marathon Events have teamed up with governing body UK Athletics to create a new entity called Athletic Ventures.
The three-way joint venture will organise and run the 2026 event at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, which will be the first time a UK city has hosted the European Athletics Championships in its 90-year history.
Athletic Ventures will also organise the UK leg of the elite Diamond League annual calendar, which has been held in Birmingham several times – most recently in 2022, a few months ahead of that summer’s Commonwealth Games.
The joint venture will lead the potential bidding process for the World Athletics Championships to return to the UK in 2029, 12 years after it was last hosted here.
It is hoped the new entity will bring greater commercial acumen to the hosting of large-scale sporting events. Believed to be the first time the private rather than public sector will underwrite an athletics championships, it is a timely intervention for Birmingham as its civic leaders grapple with the fallout of financial problems at the city council.
Athletic Ventures will also take over the quest to find new commercial partners for athletics in the UK, from grassroots activities up to national and elite level.
The news comes less than three weeks before more than 10,000 runners are expected to take to the streets once again for the annual Great Birmingham Run 10k and half marathon on May 5.
The Great Run Company also organises the Great North Run in Newcastle, one of the largest half marathons in the world, and a host of other city-based races alongside open-water swimming events. London Marathon Events organises the capital’s famous annual marathon, which this year takes place on Sunday, along with cycling event RideLondon and other running and swimming races.
Paul Foster, son of legendary athletics figurehead Brendan Foster who established the Great North Run, is Great Run’s chief executive.
He said: “The partnership is driven not only by a belief in the sport of athletics but also the belief there is real commercial opportunity.
“We’re bringing together the best event organisers in our sport to create a new template for international events.
“We’re combining world-class creative, broadcast and event operations with focused commercial and entrepreneurial vision to develop a brighter future for athletics.”
Foster added: “For the first time, major events will be underwritten by commercial organisations, not the public sector.
“We firmly believe this model is the future for major events and the Birmingham European Championships will be a huge success for Great Britain, on and off the track.”