BRITISH ATHLETICS AND USA TRACK & FIELD ANNOUNCE INNOVATIVE AND EXCITING NEW EVENT FOR 2018

‘The Meet’ will see British Athletics face the United States of America in an exciting new format. The London Stadium will host the iconic head to head between two of the world’s leading federations in track and field.

British Athletics and USA Track & Field (USATF) have today announced that two of the strongest nations in global athletics will go head-to-head in a new format, one-day competition next year.

Entitled ‘The Meet’ and hosted by British Athletics, the event will be staged on Saturday, 21 July 2018 at the London Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London.

It will feature a new, fast-paced format designed to appeal to new audiences at one of the most celebrated athletics stadiums in the world.

Many of the stars of British Athletics and USA Track & Field are expected to take part in the new, fast-paced event which will be designed to entertain audiences at London’s iconic athletics stadium.

Niels de Vos, Chief Executive Officer, British Athletics said:

“‘The Meet’ will provide audiences with a fantastic head-to-head match between British Athletics and USA Track & Field, and promises to be one of the biggest events in athletics in 2018. We are delighted to host Team USATF here in London, in an event that will excite spectators in the best athletics stadium in the world. This event will thrill a whole new generation of athletics fans who have attended the London Stadium in their hundreds of thousands for the Muller Anniversary Games, World Para Athletics Championships and IAAF World Championships. Fans can register their interest in attending this fantastic new event now via the British Athletics website.”

A blend of running, jumping, hurdles and relay events will ensure an exciting competition lasting two hours. The British Athletics team and Team USATF athletes will score points for their respective countries in nine events in a compact, fan-friendly programme.

“USATF is thrilled to collaborate and innovate with British Athletes on ‘The Meet,’” USATF CEO Max Siegel said. “Team competition captures the attention of fans in a way that brings excitement, attention and focus to our sport. ‘The Meet’ will bring track and field back to the future by reviving dual-meet team competition in a way that caters to modern fans.”

Britain has proved to be unparalleled hosts of athletics events, selling out London Stadium for both morning and evening sessions at the 2017 IAAF World Championships. Over one million tickets have been sold to watch athletics in the UK this summer, with record audiences enjoying the very best in track and field including the Muller Anniversary Games, the IAAF World Championships and the World Para Athletics Championships.

Specific format and star athlete participants for ‘The Meet’ will be announced beginning in early 2018.

Some of the sport’s greatest athletes have already expressed their support for the concept.

Mo Farah, Britain’s greatest ever distance athlete said:

“The Meet’ is a great idea and will be a fantastic event for athletics fans especially as it’s at the London Stadium which is an amazing venue and has given me so many memories over the years. I think the UK has the best athletic fans in the world and I have no doubt they will be there to cheer the British Athletics team on when they compete against Team USATF. It is going to be awesome.”

Allyson Felix, six-time Olympic gold medallist, said:

“The UK has passionate fans who love track and field. Bringing team competition back to the London Stadium will be special – there is nowhere like it in the world for track and field, and it has been the site of some memorable Team USATF performances. We are really looking forward to ‘The Meet’.”

Adam Gemili, Britain’s World Championship gold medallist as part of Britain’s 4x100m relay team, said:

“This is the head-to-head in world athletics. We have a great sporting rivalry with the USA team and we look forward to seeing which nation comes out strongest at ‘The Meet’ next summer. The event is all about power, speed and excitement. I can’t wait.”