Athletics NI is bringing back the Belfast International EAP Meet on 11th September at the Mary Peters Track.
Following hot on the heels of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games, the event is expected to attract returning Olympic and Paralympic competitors.
It will once again be part of the European Athletics Promotions circuit, attracting athletes from across Europe.
This year’s Belfast International Track and Field Event is also being supported by the Northern Ireland Office as part of its Centenary programme and will showcase Northern Ireland’s world-class athletic facilities and athletics successes, through an ‘Our Story in the Making’ campaign.
In previous years the event has seen a number of high profile International and Local athletes compete at the track including Ciara Mageean, Adam Gemili, Sarah Healy and Jason Smyth.
The event will once more be staged at the iconic Mary Peters Track in the scenic Lagan Valley Regional Park and will showcase the best of local and international talent, with the day’s events including competition for all ages, from primary school children right through to International and local senior athletes.
Through the support of the Northern Ireland Office, this year’s event will also incorporate a Children’s Summer Athletics Programme.
Children will compete in a series of activities and their progress will be monitored throughout the 3-week programme, which will see 250 children from across Northern Ireland receive coaching delivered by athletics clubs in Derry/Londonderry, Belfast, Armagh and Omagh culminating in regional finals which will see the top three girls and top three boys in each region selected.
These children will then take part in a National Final at the Belfast International Track and Field Meet, where they will have the chance to meet Northern Ireland sporting stars of the past and present.
“I am delighted to launch this Children’s Summer Athletics Programme as part of the NIO’s programme for the Centenary year and to announce the NIO’s support for the annual Belfast International Track and Field Meet,” said Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis.
“Northern Ireland has always punched well above its weight in sporting achievement, and to have hundreds of elite athletes from across the world travelling to Belfast to compete demonstrates the respect in which it is held.”
“Also, in this Olympic year, I hope that the opportunity to meet heroes such as Lady Mary Peters and to compete alongside world-class athletes serves as an inspiration to the children taking part, who could include our next generation of gold medal-winning athletes.”
“I am delighted to support the Belfast International Meet,” added Peters. It is a wonderful opportunity for both our International and young, aspiring athletes to come together.”
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