City backs Para Athletics Worlds bid despite £6m warning
Paralympic sprinter, Ndidikama Okoh, says she is "so excited" at the prospect of the city hosting in 2029.
Didi Okoh, a para athletics sprinter from Birmingham, secured a bronze medal at the 2024 Paralympics. The city now plans to bid for the World Para Athletics Championships in 2029, despite warnings that it could cost up to £6 million to host. Alexander Stadium would be the venue if the bid succeeds. Okoh, who has lymphoedema, expressed excitement about the prospect of Birmingham hosting the championships, as it would be her home city.
However, government-appointed commissioners overseeing the city's financial recovery advised the council to consider other options and determine whether the funds could be better allocated, contingent upon securing a minimum 50% contribution from external partners. Birmingham City Council's Reform UK Group leader, Jex Parkin, acknowledged the prestige and value of the event, but shared concerns about costs and priorities.
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