Aviva London Grand Prix athletics special
FANTASTIC: Jeter’s 100m win
THE AVIVA LONDON GRAND Get down to Crystal Palace for London’s top athletics event of the summer THE AVIVA London Grand Prix is returning to Crystal Palace to give spectators the chance to enjoy two thrilling days of world-class athletics and a real party atmosphere as the Diamond League comes to town for the event on August 13 and 14. With its two-day format, the Aviva London Grand Prix comprises of more Samsung Diamond League disciplines than any other event on the world circuit. The Samsung Diamond League is the 14-meet global competition launched by the IAAF in 2010 that sees the biggest names in athletics compete for pride, as well as a Diamond Trophy and a cash prize in the Diamond race. The UK is one of only three countries to be hosting
RIVALS: Powell (right) and Gay
two fixtures - last month’s Aviva British Grand Prix and the forthcoming Aviva London Grand Prix. Alongside the 14 events there are also 14 ambassadors. They are Kenenisa Bekele, Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Allyson Felix, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Steven Hooker, Yelena Isinbayeva, Asafa Powell, Tero Pitkämäki, Sanya Richards-Ross, Barbora Spotakova, Andreas Thorkildsen, Valerie Vili and Blanka Vlasic. The 2009 sell out edition of the Aviva London Grand Prix saw a packed stadium arrive to see the Jamaican legend Usain Bolt, who ran a sub-ten second time despite a strong head wind and, with three weeks until the World Championships in Berlin, it was still
a decisive victory for the Jamaican. The 100 metres spectacle was the perfect finale for an event that saw impressive performances on track and field throughout the weekend. Other fantastic performances in 2009 included USA’s Carmelita Jeter and Allyson Felix running in the women’s sprints, British pole vaulter Kate Dennison continuing her successful season with another national record while Anna Rogowska beat Yelena Isinbayeva, which unknowingly to athletics fans was a preview of the shock result the Polish vaulter would instill on the Russian at the World Championships later in the summer. The GB athletes also had a successful event with a winning perform-
The 2009 sell-out edition of the Aviva London Grand Prix saw a packed stadium arrive to see the Jamaican legend Usain Bolt, who ran a sub ten second time despite a strong head wind