Anniversary Games return to London 2012 venue

LONDON’s Olympic Stadium will host three days of athletics, including a dedicated day of Paralympic action, in July, British Athletics has announced.

The London Anniversary Games, which will take place from 26-28 July, will incorporate the annual two-day Diamond League meeting on the Friday and Saturday, but also, for the first time, a day of Paralympic competition on the Sunday.

London 2012 chief Sebastian Coe hailed a three-day event as an “important part of the London 2012 legacy”.

And double 2012 gold medallist Hannah Cockroft backed Great Britain’s Paralympians to once more pack the stadium to its 80,000 capacity and build on the interest in Paralympic sport generated by the Games.

Coe, who chaired the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: “I am delighted that the London Anniversary Games has been confirmed as three days of international athletics this July.

“London 2012 was an amazing year for British sport and what a way to celebrate its success by welcoming the world back to London once more to watch the biggest names in athletics.

“It is an important part of the London 2012 legacy that as many people as possible experience world class sport in the world class facilities.”

Wheelchair racer Cockroft, from Halifax, added: “We know we can fill the stadium one more time for just one day. If we can do that then that shows the interest is still there. That’s a real challenge for us now to see if people are still interested in what we’re doing.”