British Athletics has announced Toyota (GB) PLC as an event sponsor to two of the world’s biggest athletics events: the 2019 Müller Anniversary Games and Müller Grand Prix Birmingham.
The partnership is a continuation of Toyota’s commitment to para sport, having become a Worldwide Paralympic Partner in 2015 and having supported ParalympicsGB to launch the grassroots participation programme “Parasport powered by Toyota” earlier this year. Toyota will use LED advertising windows during the para athletics events hosted at both meetings this summer.
In July, five para athletics events will be hosted at the 2019 Müller Anniversary Games, with a range of track and field showcasing both ambulant and wheelchair events in the very same stadium that saw para sport showcasing the biggest audiences ever at London 2012. The para athletics events set to take place at August’s Müller Grand Prix Birmingham will be announced in due course.
Following a magnificent world record from Kare Adenegan in 2018, the women’s T33/34 100m will return to the London Stadium during 2019.
Adenegan enjoyed a breakthrough moment on home soil as she powered to a time of 16.80 becoming the first female T34 athlete to clock under 17 seconds over the distance.
Always a fast and furious race on the track, the best in Britain will line-up in the women’s T35-38 100m. Last year, Sophie Hahn warmed up for the WPA European Championships by setting a world record over 200m in London, so Hahn and the rest of the field will be looking at this world-class meeting as an important competition on the road to the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai.
In what is set to be a highly-entertaining contest, a host of domestic talent will go head-to-head in the T53/54 800m.
During 2018, world medallist Richard Chiassaro lowered the T54 800m world record – which has since been improved by America’s Daniel Romanchuk – so he is one of the world’s leading competitors in the class.
With the likes of 2018 European medallists Nathan Maguire (T54), Dillon Labrooy (T54) and Mo Jomni (T53) amongst the emerging talent in these classes, this is set to be an event not to be missed across the weekend of action in London.
The three para athletics events will join Jonnie Peacock and Stef Reid who were announced in the T64 100m and T44-64 long jump line-up last month.
British Athletics’ Major Events Director, Cherry Alexander MBE commented: “We are excited to have lined up some brilliant events for our para athletes at the Müller Anniversary Games. We saw last year two brilliant World Record moments that proved to be the performances of the entire weekend and we know their events this year are simply not to be missed!”
Andrew Cullis, Toyota GB Marketing Director said: “Our partnership for these headline events reflects our commitment to delivering mobility for all, and our support for getting more people involved in sport through the Parasport powered by Toyota programme. We are sure the 2019 Müller Anniversary Games and Müller Grand Prix Birmingham will be great showcases for exceptional personal achievements and will inspire many more people to enjoy and participate in para athletics.”
British Athletics’ Paralympic Head Coach, Paula Dunn MBE added: “It’s great that once again our para athletes are headlining a world class weekend of athletics. There is no doubt about it that from a performance angle these events give us vital preparation. With a World Championships in November this year and long term preparations for Tokyo well underway, I know the Müller Anniversary Games, offer a great platform for our World Class programme athletes.”
