2026 European Athletics Championships being ‘assessed’ amid Birmingham financial crisis

Organisers of the 2026 European Athletics Championships said they were “actively assessing” plans amid host city Birmingham’s financial crisis.

The city council filed a section 114 order last week which means it is essentially bankrupt.

The renovated Alexander Stadium is set to be the venue for the event.

European Athletics said it was aware of the city council’s situation but insisted it still had “confidence” in the authority and its other partners.

At the time of bidding to host the 2026 competition, the council’s cabinet was asked to underwrite a contribution of £13.7m which would reduce with successful bids for funding to both UK Sport and the Department for Culture, Media & Sport.

In a statement, European Athletics, said: “We are actively assessing the situation in relation to the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships in conjunction with local organising committee and the Birmingham City Council and expecting to receive further information from the Birmingham City Council.

“European Athletics would also like to reiterate confidence in all our British-based partners for the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships including the local organising committee, Birmingham City Council, UK Athletics, and the other relevant UK governing sports bodies.”