Birmingham hosts the World Indoor Championships

Birmingham has hosted the World Indoor Athletics Championships at the National Indoor Arena, the first time the championships have been held in Britain.

Almost 600 athletes from 133 countries competed over three days, from 14 to 16 March, and the arena was packed for every session.

British success

The highlight for the home crowd came in the men's 200 metres, where Marlon Devonish took gold. The Coventry-born sprinter produced a superb run to win the title, sending the crowd into raptures.

There were also medals for Kelly Holmes, who won silver in the women's 1,500 metres, and Jason Gardener, who took bronze in the men's 60 metres. The British team's performance has given the sport a lift ahead of the outdoor World Championships in Paris this summer.

The world's best

The championships brought many of the world's best athletes to Birmingham, including Olympic and world champions from the United States, Russia, Jamaica and Africa. Fans were treated to fast times, close finishes and world-class performances across the programme.

The atmosphere in the arena was widely praised by athletes and officials, many of whom said it was one of the best they had experienced at an indoor championships.

A proud moment for the city

Birmingham has worked hard to establish itself as a centre for major sporting events. The National Indoor Arena, which opened in 1991, regularly hosts international athletics meetings, and the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr is home to Birchfield Harriers and major outdoor events.

City leaders say the successful staging of the championships will help Birmingham attract more big events in the future, bringing visitors and money into the city. Hotels, restaurants and bars have been busy all week with athletes, officials, media and spectators from around the world.

A welcome boost

The championships come at a difficult time for British athletics, after the collapse of plans for a new national stadium at Picketts Lock in north London meant Britain had to give up the 2005 World Championships.

That episode damaged Britain's reputation in the sport, and the success of Birmingham's event will go some way towards restoring it. The smooth running of the championships has been widely noted.

Legacy

Organisers hope the championships will inspire young people in Birmingham to take up athletics. Clubs across the city are hoping to see a rise in new members.

The success of the event also adds weight to Birmingham's claim to be one of the country's leading sporting cities, alongside its reputation for football at Villa Park and St Andrew's, and cricket at Edgbaston.

For the thousands of fans who packed the arena, it was a weekend to remember.