Glasgow announced as world indoor venue (December 2021 article)
Written by Peter Jardine
When Glasgow was announced as the venue for the 2024 World Indoors in 2021, the calendar pages had only just turned December.
The first ever World Athletics Championships will be held in Scotland, where the European Indoor Championships have previously been held at Kelvin Hall and the Emirates Arena.
And while early anticipation was high 27 months ago, nothing compares to the frenzied excitement across the community this week.
There are three main reasons for this. Josh Kerr, Laura Muir and gemma leaky.
Our top Scottish trio will be competing for the GB and NI spots in front of a packed Scottish crowd at the Emirates, but there is enough convincing evidence to suggest that all three be. genuine Candidates for medals in each competition.
Laura and Gemma won the British title and Josh set a world best in the 3000m, an event that the outdoor 1500m world champion will compete in this weekend.
Looking back to December 2021, at the time Scotland’s last outdoor world champions Liz McColgan About 30 years ago.
Jake Wightman In 2022, Josh himself broke that special glass ceiling. He was the first Lola to reach the world championship podium (Oregon in 2022) and won the European indoor title again in 2023.
Adding a further layer of sadness, Laura and Gemma have “no longer counted” the number of laps they completed in practice at the Emirates Arena, despite the venue now being renovated. The aggregation must reach several thousand items.
They may have an advantage if familiarity is home advantage, but of course sports don’t always work that way.
Schedule of three Scottish representatives
Photo credit: Jeff Holmes
Glasgow ready to host World Indoors
“It’s very special for me to be there, at the first world championships held by Scotland,” Laura said this week.
“I’m really looking forward to what we can do in Glasgow and this is a great stepping stone on the road to Paris.
“I look at pressure as an indicator of my success and try to use it to my advantage. I am very honored to be in this position.
“It has been challenging to have a new training group and a new program for the first time in 12 years, but things are going very well.”
Josh, of course, will be competing in the men’s 3000m, which will also be held on Saturday night.
Josh, who finished 12th at the Commonwealth Games, said: “I haven’t ridden in front of Scottish fans for a long time and I don’t think I’ve done myself justice in front of an English crowd for a long time either.” The final in Birmingham two years ago.
‘It feels like we have come full circle since 2017, when we lost in the first round. [at the World Championships in London].
“I’m ready to show off that newfound fitness in front of my British fans and hopefully provide some inspiration to the next generation.”
“I am coming in with a plan and I believe if I execute it I will win the gold medal.”
Gemma is in a good place for her return to Glasgow
tag:
Glasgow 2024, Gemma Leakey, Josh Kerr, Laura Muir, World Indoors