SUCCESS OF WORLD SPORTS EVENTS IN BIRMINGHAM

Early day motion 990, tabled 1 April 2003 by Richard Burden (Labour). Signed by 39 members.

That this House congratulates Birmingham on the success of the 9th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics held on 14th to 16th March, which ably demonstrated Birmingham's ability to deliver a world class event and underlined the city's credentials for the title of European Capital of Culture 2008; and agrees with Lamine Diack, President of the International Association of Athletics Federations, when he led accolades hailing the Championships as excellent, the best ever, with Istvan Gyulai, General Secretary of the IAAF, when he remarked 'I have seen all world championships, indoors and outdoors, and we have never experienced more local support from the host city' and with the Minister for Sport, when he claimed 'The Championships have been a wonderful advertisement for athletics, for Birmingham and for Britain; once again we have shown the world that excellence is at home in the UK'.

Signatures by party: Labour 30, Conservative 4, Liberal Democrat 3, Labour/Co-operative 1, UUP 1.