Glitz planned as American athletics seals deal with Birmingham for 2012 Olympics

Oct 21 2009 by Neil Elkes, Birmingham Post

A deal to bring the American athletics to Birmingham ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games will be signed with appropriate glamour this week.

The US Track and Field team President Stephanie Hightower and CEO Doug Lagan will officially seal the deal with Birmingham City Council leader Mike Whitby tomorrow.

And the glittering celebration, confirming that the largest Olympic team are coming to the city, will be heralded with American style cheerleaders and a Dixie Band.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the city and USA Track and Field was signed in February 2008 when Birmingham hosted the World Indoor Athletics Championships.

Talks continued through last year’s Beijing Olympics and the Berlin World Athletics Championships in August leading to the deal.