BIRMINGHAM — Olympian and TV commentator Martin Gillingham has slammed the organisers of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, saying they got the ticket pricing “horribly wrong” and have failed athletes due to poor attendances.
The first three days of action at Alexander Stadium have often seen athletes run, jump and throw in front of half-empty stands and Gillingham, who is working on the event for TNT Sports, believes British Athletics chiefs have got it badly wrong.
“They’ve so far blown it,” he said. “Unfortunately, British Athletics has got a habit of letting down its athletes. It seems as if someone has very badly miscalculated.
“There’s nothing better for an Amy Hunt or Keely Hodgkinson to arrive at a home event in a largely full stadium to be cheered on by a home crowd. It shouldn’t be beyond the sport to create a pricing model for an event like this – the first time Britain has ever hosted the Europeans – and to have a full house for every evening session.”
Organisers said 13,623 fans were in attendance on Monday evening as Great Britain’s Amy Hunt claimed 100m gold, far below the stadium’s 23,000 capacity, while 14,098 attended last night’s session.
