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Weir to compete at Sainsbury's Grand Prix in Birmingham

British Athletics today announced that six time Paralympic champion David Weir (coach: Jenny Archer) will compete in the T53/T54 1500m at the Sainsbury’s Grand Prix – Birmingham, in the IPC Grand Prix Final on Saturday 29 June at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.

The Sainsbury’s Grand Prix - Birmingham will be the seventh and final event of the inaugural IPC Athletics Grand Prix series and will play host to over 140 athletes competing in 18 events.

The Sainsbury’s Grand Prix – Birmingham is a weekend festival of athletics and some of the biggest names in the world are set to compete as the IAAF Diamond League takes place on 30 June, with six Olympic champions confirmed including Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion Mo Farah (Alberto Salazar) and Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford (Dan Pfaff).

Weir, who has become known as the “Weirwolf”, famously stormed to victory in the 800m, 1500, 5000m and marathon at London 2012 and is looking forward to the opportunity to compete in a major IPC event again in front of a home crowd:

“The profile of paralympic sport has really risen since London 2012 and the development of the IPC Athletics Grand Prix Series is a really positive step ensuring the momentum keeps going. The Games last year was an amazing experience and I’m so proud that I was part of it. The British public are so supportive of the paralympic movement and it’s brilliant for the sport that we have another high profile event back in Britain so soon after the Games. I’m really looking forward to racing at the Sainsbury’s Grand Prix - Birmingham. It’s not a track I know well but the British crowd are always very vocal in their support, so I’m sure that will give me the boost I need.”

Weir also announced today that he has decided not to compete at the IPC World Championships in Lyon, France in July.

“I’ve decided not to travel to Lyon for the World Championships. After a long chat with my coach I want to reduce the number of international meets I commit to. I can spend a long time away from home at international competitions and with a young family I’d like to reduce the amount of time I’m travelling so I can spend more time with them. I’ve looked at my race calendar for the rest of the year and identified a select number of international races that work with my programme. My next international meet will be in Switzerland in May when I’ll compete in the marathon on 2nd June 2013.”

Tickets for the IPC Grand Prix Final on 29 June as part of the Sainsbury’s Grand Prix – Birmingham, will go on sale at 10am on Friday 26 April.

For further information and for tickets for any of the Sanisbury’s Summer Series event visit the British Athletics website – www.britishathletics.org.uk

For further information on the IPC Grand Prix series visit www.paralympic.org/athletics