Aviva British Grand Prix, Sunday 31 August 2008
Gateshead International Stadium

Sprint stars Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell are set for a showdown in Gateshead just a fortnight after the Olympic 100m final.

The pair will meet at the Aviva British Grand Prix on August 31 in what is likely to be a highlight of the first athletics meeting in the UK after the Beijing Olympic Games.

It will be the first time they will have raced against each other in a grand prix meeting this year.

Jamaican Powell is the Commonwealth champion and former world record holder – he equalled his then world record of 9.77 the last time he ran in Gateshead two years ago.

Gay, the current world champion, was due to meet Powell for the first time this season at the recent Aviva London Grand Prix but had to withdraw due to an ongoing hamstring problem.

He said: “It was just too much of a risk for me to run in London and I apologise to the British fans for not running there. But I promise I will make it up to them in Gateshead.”

UK Athletics chief executive Niels de Vos admitted it was a major coup to get the sprint pair together in the same race.

De Vos said: “We are delighted to be able to bring two of the world's best sprinters to Gateshead and give British athletics fans the clash they have been longing to see.

“For such high profile athletes to commit to returning to the UK so soon after Beijing clearly demonstrates that they love competing here and I know Powell will be looking for a repeat performance of his last trip to Gateshead when he equalled the then world record.”

The Gateshead meeting will also be the first outing post-Beijing for the majority of Britain’s returning track and field stars.

This year's event marks the first major global track meeting in the north east since 2006. The Aviva British Grand Prix will now be held in Gateshead until at least 2010.

Tickets are now available on 08000 556 056 or online at www.ukathletics.net

Gateshead Council cabinet member for culture Cllr Linda Green said:  "We've got some fantastic facilities at the Gateshead International Stadium which I know that the top athletes competing at the Aviva British Grand Prix will take full advantage of.

"I'm also expecting the sport loving people of Gateshead and the North East to take full advantage of the world class competition taking place right on their doorsteps to make this a truly memorable event."

The Aviva British Grand Prix is one of the key sporting events taking place in 2008 as part of NewcastleGateshead’s world-class festivals and events programme.  www.NewcastleGateshead.com

Stella Hall, Creative Director of the culture10 programme, based at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “Sport, and athletics in particular, is a central part of NewcastleGateshead’s cultural life and so we are delighted the Aviva British Grand Prix is part of our world-class festivals and events programme.  

“Attracting such a prestigious event immediately after the Olympics confirms the region’s already excellent reputation for top international sporting events especially in the build up towards 2012.”

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For further event information contact Fast Track: Andrew Wallace (07776 306 305)
Lachlan Mackinnon (07766414860)
Henry Robson (07958778244)

Editors notes

UK Athletics
As the national governing body for the sport of athletics, UK Athletics is dedicated to raising standards in every event, every region and every age group. UK Athletics works closely together with over 1,400 clubs, hundreds of schools and local authorities across the UK, and Home Countries athletics associations to grow talent and ensure that athletics remains the nation’s favourite Olympic sport. Its three primary roles are:  

Governance
UK Athletics is wholly responsible for developing and implementing the rules and regulations of the sport, including anti-doping, health and safety, welfare, training and education for coaches and officials, and facilities licensing.

Development
UK Athletics is committed to improving and developing the sport from grassroots right through to podium and is proud to run a competition structure that meets the needs of athletes at all levels and abilities. Nurturing athletes of all ages and preparing them for the world stage is achieved through continual investment in facilities, clubs and performance centres, developing the finest coaches, employing the very best officials, and offering medical expertise that is second to none.

Funding
As a business, UK Athletics is responsible for securing commercial partners and sponsorship to fund and help develop the sport. UK Athletics is proud to have the biggest sponsorship deal outside of football with Norwich Union, along with support from the National Lottery and UK Sport.


About Aviva and Norwich Union
• Aviva’s investment in the premier Olympic sport is unparalleled.  The UK’s largest general insurance company, has supported UK Athletics from playground to podium since 1999 – helping elite athletes reach their full potential and encouraging the next generation to get active and learn key life skills.  By 2012 it is anticipated that over 15 million children throughout the UK will have been actively engaged in its grassroots athletics schemes. Find out more at joinourteam.com.
• Aviva is the world's fifth-largest insurance group and the biggest in the UK.  It is one of the leading providers of life and pensions products in Europe with substantial businesses elsewhere around the world.  Aviva's principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of £49.2 billion and funds under management of £364 billion at 31 December 2007
• On the 29 April 2008, Aviva announced its intention migrate the Norwich Union brand to Aviva over the next two years, the full timescales of which are still to be confirmed. Rebranding the UK Athletics sponsorship is part of this migration to ensure the benefits of the Company’s long-standing investment in the sport is maximised.  The televised athletics events will operate under the Aviva name from this summer to capitalise on the global exposure these events receive.
• As part of the migration process, the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team and grassroots programmes will continue to be Norwich Union branded for the remainder of 2008 and will be rebranded in 2009.