Press Release - London Marathon - 5/26/20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

          London Marathon Events to support endurance athlete hubs 
          at Leeds Beckett University and University of Birmingham

British Athletics have announced a crucial partnership with London Marathon 
Events to improve the future development of athletics talent with a 
structured network of talent development hubs - running programmes that 
provide athletes aged 16-21 years with a seamless experience through the 
performance pathway, to ultimately fulfil ambitions of success on the 
international stage.

The talent hubs, developed in collaboration with the Home Country Athletics 
Federations, will see talent hubs and academies developed across all home 
nations. England Athletics will be supported by the Talented Athlete 
Scholarship Scheme (TASS) to implement the University of Birmingham and 
Leeds Beckett University Hubs.

London Marathon Events will play a key part in the structure by providing 
investment specifically for the development of 1500m-plus events based at 
the two universities with the aim to support endurance athlete and coaches 
to progress and transition from junior to senior success.

With Birmingham and Leeds already operational having taken part in the 
strategy pilot, and in light of the Covid-19 outbreak, part of the 
programmes are already being adapted into virtual, online based activity 
and e-learning to ensure the ongoing support for athletes and coaches and 
the ability of the programme to ensure safe activity at this challenging 
time.

The TASS element will be key in providing additional performance support 
services and quality assurance of delivery in sports science and medical 
support.

British Athletics Talent Director Jonathan Roberts said:

"We are thrilled with the launch of the talent hubs at Leeds Beckett and 
Birmingham, as they play a key part of providing a dual career pathway for 
athletes and additional support for coaches.

"London Marathon Events' investment into the endurance events is a hugely 
significant boost to this newly evolving talent pathway across the UK. We 
are thrilled that they have given the talent hubs their endorsement and 
support and look forward to working with them in this area of talent 
development.

"To work in collaboration with London Marathon Events, England Athletics, 
the universities and TASS gives us the best opportunity to provide the best 
pathway for athletes and additional support for coaches, as one part of our 
vision for talent development in the UK."

Hugh Brasher, Event Director at London Marathon Events, said: "We are 
passionately committed to supporting the overall development of British 
distance running and we believe the creation of these new talent hubs at 
Leeds Beckett and Birmingham offer vital support to young British athletes 
as they move from school to university."

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