POSTED: Monday May 18th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WELSH LEGENDS BACK SUPER8

The exciting two-hour City versus City concept is being piloted in the Welsh capital next month and several leading British athletes

Welsh athletics legends Colin Jackson and Tanni Grey Thompson have both given
their backing to next month’s Super8 competition in Cardiff.  The
exciting two-hour City versus City concept is being piloted in the Welsh
capital next month and several leading British athletes – including
Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu – have confirmed their participation.

The host city will be hoping to be inspired by a big home crowd as they take on
all-star teams from London North, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, London
South, Glasgow and Sheffield on Wednesday 10 June at the Cardiff International
Sports Arena.

Twice World 110m hurdles champion Colin Jackson said:
“I expect a really exciting night of athletics on June 10. The
format is fast paced and exciting and lends itself to a frenzied evening of
sport.

“Some of the teams look really strong with plenty of the UK’s top
Olympic athletes right in the thick of the action. It will be tough for the
home team, but there are not many sporting crowds as passionate as the Welsh
and I expect Cardiff to be in inspired form on the night.”

Paralympic legend Tanni Grey Thompson said: “In athletics, it is
almost without exception that the competitions the spectators enjoy the most
are also those that the athletes enjoy the most. They feed off each other. The
Super8 format is one that easily appeals to both athlete and spectator. It
promises to be highly charged-stuff on the track, in the field and in the
stands. I for one, can’t wait for June 10.”

Confirmed names for Super8 already include Ohuruogu, who won 400m gold in
Beijing last summer, who will captain London North,  Olympic 400m hurdles
bronze medallist Tasha Danvers who will captain London South, UK Indoor 800m
champion Jenny Meadows who will captain Manchester and Olympic 800m
semi-finallist Marilyn Okoro, who will compete for London North.

More big names will be announced in the coming days. Tickets are now on sale at
£5 (seating) or £3 (standing) for adults, U16s are free, provided they are
accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets can be purchased at www.uka.org.uk/super8 or by calling the
ticket hotline on 0844 844 0808.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Super8 will consist of 100m, 110mh, 400m, 800m, 1500m, pole vault, high jump,
long jump, javelin, shot and medley relays (200,200,400,600). Super 8 will act
as the final selection event for the Aviva GB team for the European Team
Championships.

From 2010, cities will bid for franchises and will work closely with clubs in their area to produce each team. The Super8 format is one that can work at the highest level of the sport as well as at club and school level. UK cities will be invited to bid for Super 8 franchises and the right to host events. Over the coming years, the aim is that the competition will grow with each team hosting a fixture.

The Super 8 format is also designed to be adopted by schools where the curriculum makes the staging of a full scale athletics matches increasingly difficult. The two-hour format of Super 8 could be adopted for inter-class or inter-school competitions with boys and girls competing together in the same team.

The pilot event in Cardiff will be preceded by a Super 8 schools pilot on the same day.  

 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Emma Pickles, Media Officer
T:            0121 713 8405
M:           07920 078543
E:            epickles@uka.org.uk

Chris Broadbent, Media Manager
M:           07701 099763
E:            cbroadbent@uka.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITOR
UKA is the National Governing Body of the premier Olympic and Paralympic sport. We aspire to be a world leading sporting organisation delivering clear and inspirational leadership for athletics to ensure a vibrant and empowered sport at every level that can evolve to meet every challenge. We work with Home Country Federations and other partners to secure and distribute funding and develop policies for key areas and implementation at the appropriate levels, giving support and strategic guidance. 

For more information visit www.uka.org.uk

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Keywords · UK Athletics · Christine Ohuruogu · Colin Jackson

Name: Chris Broadbent
Organization: UK Athletics
Email:
Phone: +44.7701.099763

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