The President of European Athletics, Hansjorg Wirz, has declared the organisation of the weekend's 29th European Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham as the best ever!

The 5,000 seated National Indoor Arena in Birmingham was a sell-out on both Saturday and Sunday as well as providing impressive crowds for the mainly qualifying rounds on Friday, but importantly from the European Athletics point of view, the championships extended into the entire city.

"From the moment we arrived in Birmingham airport, one was very aware that the championships were taking place in the city and the city centre was dressed with huge billboards promoting the event and the stars" said Wirz.

"The organisers succeeded in integrating the event into the city with initiatives such as the SPARk, where kids could come and try athletics, the schools programme and numerous other initiatives. It is crucial that the championship doesn't stop at the doors of the arena and in this, Birmingham achieved great success"

Championship Director Terry Colton said "We are ecstatic with this news from European Athletics and it is a great boost not only to Birmingham but also to the whole country, five years before the London Olympics."