Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix

The Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix, formerly known as Aviva Indoor Grand Prix, is an annual indoor track and field competition which is held in mid-February at the Arena Birmingham in Birmingham, England. It is one of a handful of events to hold IAAF Indoor Permit Meetings status.[1] As one of the later major meetings of the indoor athletics season, it often serves as preparation for the biennial European Athletics Indoor Championships and IAAF World Indoor Championships. The meeting is directed by former athlete Ian Stewart and attracts numerous high calibre athletes including World and Olympic medallists.[2]

Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix
The NIA Arena hosts the meeting
DateMid-February
LocationBirmingham, United Kingdom United Kingdom
Event typeTrack and field
Established2006
Official siteUKA page
2024 Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix

The event is one of three indoor athletics competitions in the United Kingdom which are sponsored by Müller, alongside the Müller Birmingham Grand Prix and the Müller Anniversary Games in London. The Müller Indoor Grand Prix was previously known as the Norwich Union Indoor Grand Prix prior to the sponsor's rebranding as Aviva in 2009.[3]

In 2016 the meeting was staged at the Emirates Arena under new sponsorship (Sainsbury's) in Glasgow instead of Birmingham.[4] The 2016 edition was part of the inaugural IAAF World Indoor Tour. The 2017 edition moved back to Birmingham, and venue will alternate in future years.

The Indoor Grand Prix venue has also been used for international level competitions, hosting the 2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships and the 2007 European Athletics Indoor Championships.

World records

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Over the course of its history, five world records and three world bests have been set at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix.

World records & bests set at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix
Year Event Record Athlete Nationality
2000 1000 m 2:14.96 Wilson Kipketer   Denmark
2001 3000 m 8:32.88 Gabriela Szabo   Romania
2004 5000 m 12:49.60 Kenenisa Bekele   Ethiopia
2007 2000 m 4:49.99 Kenenisa Bekele   Ethiopia
2008 Two miles 8:04.35 [WB] Kenenisa Bekele   Ethiopia
2014 Two miles 9:00.48 [WB] Genzebe Dibaba   Ethiopia
2015 Two miles 8:03.40 [WB] Mo Farah   United Kingdom
2019 1500 m 3:31.04 Samuel Tefera   Ethiopia

Meeting records

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The men's 3000 metres race at the 2010 edition
 
Dayron Robles, 2008 Olympic champion, lining up for the 60 metres hurdles
 
Tirunesh Dibaba competing against Sentayehu Ejigu in Birmingham

Women

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References

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  1. ^ Burka targeting indoor Mile record in Birmingham. IAAF (2010-02-15). Retrieved on 2011-02-19.
  2. ^ Thomas, Abigail (2009-01-02). Six more World and Olympic medallists join Birmingham line-up. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-02-19.
  3. ^ Norwich Union Indoor Grand Prix. Euro Meetings. Retrieved on 2011-02-19.
  4. ^ "Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix". British Athletics. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  5. ^ "60 Metres Results" (PDF). www.uka.org.uk. 18 February 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  6. ^ Matthew Brown (18 February 2012). "Liu Xiang, Clarke, Ennis and Defar delight Birmingham". IAAF. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  7. ^ John Mulkeen (16 February 2019). "Tefera breaks world indoor 1500m record in Birmingham". IAAF. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  8. ^ Matthew Brown (15 February 2014). "Dibaba smashes two miles world best in Birmingham, Aman 800m in 1:44.52". IAAF. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  9. ^ John Mulkeen (16 February 2019). "Tefera breaks world indoor 1500m record in Birmingham". IAAF. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Gardener edges Pickering in final". www.news.bbc.co.uk. 17 February 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  11. ^ "Gardener edges Pickering in final". www.news.bbc.co.uk. 17 February 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  12. ^ "Mo Farah breaks indoor two-mile world record in Birmingham". BBC Sport. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  13. ^ Whittington, Jess (25 February 2023). "Tsegay threatens world indoor 3000m record, as tour titles are won in Birmingham". World Athletics. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  14. ^ "400 Metres Hurdles Results" (PDF). www.uka.org.uk. 19 February 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  15. ^ Matthew Brown (19 February 2011). "Eight world leads, European 5000m record for Farah in Birmingham". IAAF. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  16. ^ "Pole Vault Results". results.britishathletics.org.uk. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  17. ^ "Gardener edges Pickering in final". www.news.bbc.co.uk. 17 February 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  18. ^ "Triple Jump Results" (PDF). www.uka.org.uk. 19 February 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  19. ^ "60m Results" (PDF). British Athletics. 18 February 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  20. ^ "Gardener edges Pickering in final". www.news.bbc.co.uk. 17 February 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  21. ^ Whittington, Jess (25 February 2023). "Tsegay threatens world indoor 3000m record, as tour titles are won in Birmingham". World Athletics. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  22. ^ "1000m Results" (PDF). British Athletics. 18 February 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  23. ^ Matthew Brown (16 February 2013). "Ahouré's sub-seven sprint steals the show in Birmingham". IAAF. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  24. ^ John Mulkeen (16 February 2019). "Tefera breaks world indoor 1500m record in Birmingham". IAAF. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  25. ^ Whittington, Jess (25 February 2023). "Tsegay threatens world indoor 3000m record, as tour titles are won in Birmingham". World Athletics. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  26. ^ Matthew Brown (15 February 2014). "Dibaba smashes two miles world best in Birmingham, Aman 800m in 1:44.52". IAAF. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  27. ^ "High Jump Results" (PDF). results.britishathletics.org.uk. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  28. ^ Simon Turnbull (21 February 2015). "Farah breaks world indoor two mile best in Birmingham". IAAF. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  29. ^ "Shot Put Results" (PDF). British Athletics. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.[permanent dead link]
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