Indoors can inspire next generation
Josh Kerr believes the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow can help inspire the next generation of UK athletes.
The reigning 1,500 metres world champion, from Edinburgh, was at the Emirates Arena to publicise the competition which begins today.
Kerr, 26 - one of the star attractions of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team alongside Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie – will run in the 3,000m and he is in no doubt as to what benefits can come from a global event taking place on home soil.
He said: "We've had a lot of events and London [Olympics] in 2012 made a huge impact on the sport and the youth and inspiring that next generation and I think it's Scotland's turn to have that.
"Being able to have worldclass athletes from every country in the world come over here and just show off their skills and being able to sit right there and watch it, I think makes a massive difference.
"We all know that growing up, we'll be able to pinpoint small parts of our childhood being like 'that was the thing that inspired me'.
"They've done a fantastic job getting everyone excited in this city and getting this place bouncing for a really massive championships and the athletes have turned up as well.
"We're going to go and do our job with the competing and I hope you're going to see this generation coming through and maybe in 5-10 years' time saying 'this was the championships that really kick-started my love for the sport'. I think, especially for us home athletes, this makes such a huge difference for us.”