Backing plea on bid for World Championships

STEVE CRAM has called on the Prime Minister to back a bid to bring one of the world’s biggest sporting events back to the United Kingdom.

- By WILL JENNINGS

The Gateshead star, a former world champion and Olympic silver medallist over 1,500m, is among the signatories in a powerful open letter calling on ministers to bring the World Athletics Championships to London in 2029.

Also joining the list of more than 100 supporters are fellow North East stars Richard Kilty, Sir Brendan Foster and Laura Weightman, plus the likes of Sir Mo Farah, Keely Hodgkinson, Dame Kelly Holmes, Jonathan Edwards, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Paula Radcliffe, Dina Asher-Smith and Daley Thompson a cross-generational group of sporting legends united in their belief that this is a rare opportunity to inspire the nation, foster unity and create a lasting legacy.

The involvement of the athletes lends additional support to the London 2029 campaign, spearheaded by Athletic Ventures a collaboration between UK Athletics, London Marathon Events and the Great Run Company.