Major events funding and new running programme plans approved
Cabinet has today (20 April) given the green light to more than £4 million of funding to support a programme of high profile sporting and cultural events in Birmingham over the next three years.
The £4.65 million expenditure consists of £3.096 million from Birmingham City Council’s major events budget for 2015-18, plus a £1.55 million grant from Sport England to fund a new running programme designed to reduce health inequalities across the city, which cabinet also voted to accept today.
The grant is conditional on Birmingham City Council providing match funding of £1.380 million, with the programme including establishing a new 10km mass participation event in the city centre and promoting Birmingham as the European Capital of Running.
The council will also enter into an agreement with British Athletics to continue to host a programme of major athletics events in the city for a minimum of three years, including the Diamond League and British Championships at Alexander Stadium and the Indoor Grand Prix at the Barclaycard Arena.
Events funded by the council’s major events budget will include a new signature arts festival this year, the International Dance Festival in 2016 and the Aegon Birmingham Tennis Classic.
Steve Hollingworth, Birmingham City Council’s assistant director for sport and events, said: “Birmingham has a proud history of hosting major sporting and cultural events which bring different communities together, so it is only right that we continue this good work with the resources available to us.
“Additionally, this also presents an opportunity to promote healthier lifestyles across the city by establishing a new running programme and promoting Birmingham on the map as the European Capital of Running.”
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