14th February 2018

LOCAL SCHOOLCHILD BRINGS EVENT COVER TO LIFE AHEAD OF THE SPAR BRITISH ATHLETICS INDOOR CH

  • Mohammed Talebeardkani’s design chosen for the front cover of the event programme for the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships.
  • The community initiative was launched last December with the support of British athletes Hannah England and Sarah McDonald
  • The SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships take place on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 February in Arena Birmingham.

Last December, British Athletics gave Year 3 pupils of Nelson Primary School in Birmingham the important task of designing the front cover of the event programme for the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships, and we are delighted to unveil the winning entry designed by Mohammed Talebeardkani.

Inspired by 2011 world 1500m silver medallist Hannah England and 2017 European cross country team relay gold medallist Sarah McDonald – who both visited the pupils back in December – the children were given a golden opportunity to show their artistic talents and get their design on the front cover of the souvenir programme which will be enjoyed by thousands who attend the Arena Birmingham next weekend (17-18 February).

Mohammed will receive a framed copy of the programme with his design as centrepiece alongside race bibs signed by England and McDonald, while he and his family will also be invited along to the championships.

Assistant-Head Teacher at Nelson Primary School, Louise Barnes said:

“To have been engaged in this initiative has been a fantastic opportunity and really memorable for our year 3 children, particularly for Mohammad and his superb front cover design.

“Having two athletes who have represented Great Britain visit your school does not happen every day, and the buzz of excitement it has given the pupils to get creative has been really great to see.”

Chair of the UK Athletics Athletes’ Commission Hannah England added:

“I am so pleased to have been involved in this fantastic initiative. It has given these schoolchildren from Birmingham a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of one of the biggest national competitions to take place in the city. All the entries were really good; the children at Nelson Primary School are certainly very creative.

“Mohammed’s design encapsulates everything about the event – it is fun, and a great representation of the excitement athletes, coaches, families and fans have when they come to compete or watch the event. I’d encourage everyone to buy a copy on the day – it will be a fantastic souvenir.”

British Athletics Major Events Director, Cherry Alexander – who judged the competition and decided the winner – said:

“It was a really tough decision but Mohammed’s design really stood out to us as encapsulating some of the great landmarks of Birmingham. There were so many fantastic entries from Nelson Primary School, so on behalf of British Athletics I want to say a big thank you to all the year three students for their hard work.

“The British Championships is all about the community spirit so I’m proud to offer these local students the chance to get involved with the event in this way. I’m looking forward to British Athletics expanding this activity during the summer and seeing more children’s creativity and passion for both sport and art.”

The best of Britain will gather at the Arena Birmingham on the weekend of Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 February as they compete for the prestigious honour of being crowned British champion and battle for a place on the British Athletics team ahead of March’s IAAF World Indoor Championships, due to be held in the very same Arena from 1 – 4 March.

Tickets for the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships are available at https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/events-and-tickets/british-athletics-indoor-championships/