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THE future of top-class athletics in the North-East has been secured for the next three years after Gateshead International Stadium secured the right to host the showpiece Norwich Union British Grand Prix until 2010.

Traditionally, the meeting was moved from city to city on an annual basis, but the three-year deal guarantees Gateshead one of the biggest events in the world athletics calendar during the build-up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The new deal will begin with this year's British Grand Prix on Sunday, August 31, an event that is due to take place just one week after the close of the Beijing Olympics.

"This is fantastic news for Gateshead and the whole of the North-East," said former Olympic triple jump gold medallist Jonathan Edwards. "To have an athletics event of this scale on our doorstep during the countdown to 2012 should prove a further motivation for everyone connected with the sport in the area.

"In my day, big track events like this in the North-East were not an annual occurrence. I hope everyone takes full advantage of it."

UK Athletics chief executive Niels de Vos added: "The North East has a fantastic athletics' heritage and I know how much our athletes will enjoy competing regularly at Gateshead.

"I'm delighted that the first year of this three-year partnership is in Olympic year which will give athletics fans in the region the first chance to welcome back our Olympians and be amongst the first in the world to celebrate what I hope will be some great medals."

* UK Athletics are offering a 20 per cent 'early bird' discount on all tickets for this year's Norwich Union British Grand Prix. Readers should visit www.ukathletics.net/tickets/ or telephone 08000 556 056 quoting: PRESSM20.

** FOR MORE ATHETICS NEWS READ TOMORROW'S NORTHERN ECHO **

11:39am Tuesday 11th March 2008

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