New Glasgow arena set to stage Aviva match

Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall belonged to Mo Farah last weekend and now the Aviva International Match will return to the city for the next two years.

The event is relocating to the new Commonwealth Sports Arena in January 2013 as part of a two-year deal between UK Athletics (UKA) and Glasgow Life.

It will maintain a tradition of more than two decades whereby top athletes open their indoor seasons by coming to Scotland.

The Commonwealth Sports Arena, which is adjacent to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, will be one of the biggest facilities of its kind in Europe. Located on a 10.5 hectare site in Dalmarnock, the Arena will mean more than 5,000 fans can pack in to see the world’s best athletes.

Glasgow City Council are building the new venue and plans are being put in place for its official opening later this year. A world-class programme of sporting events will be staged at the venue in the lead up to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, with the 2013 Aviva International Match to be the first major athletics meeting.

Saturday’s farewell Aviva match at the Kelvin Hall was a sell out, with Farah setting a new stadium record in the 1500m.

Kilbarchan athlete Claire Gibson made her Great Britain debut in the 800m and tomorrow she will represent Glasgow Cobras over 1500m in Sheffield in the McCain City Challenge.

Gibson and Chris Baillie have been named as team captains for Glasgow, who can draw on athletes from around Scotland for the first of two matches against six English cities and Cardiff Dragons.

The Cobras line-up, managed by Brian Donaldson, also includes Dave Smith, Guy Learmonth, Kathryn Evans, Nony Mordi, Jax Thoirs, Alan Hamilton and Erin Leggate.