‘I want a Commonwealth medal for Team Scotland’- Laura targets Games

Wednesday 22nd September 2021

Ticket ballot for Birmingham 2022

Laura Muir has become the latest athlete to set her sights clearly on joining Team Scotland at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, with a special visit to the city’s Alexander Stadium, currently undergoing redevelopment ahead of the event.

Laura, fresh from Olympic 1500m silver at Tokyo 2020, said she was keen for selection to race at the Games and determined to win a Commonwealth medal for Scotland.

‘I would absolutely love to compete at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games,’ she said.

‘It provides me with another opportunity to represent Scotland and it will mean coming back to compete in a city where I was fortunate enough to have won silver and bronze medals at the World Indoor Championships at Arena Birmingham three years ago.

‘I would really love to win gold for Scotland next summer.’

Commenting on the redevelopment of the Alexander Stadium since she last competed there, Laura added: ‘I can’t believe this is the same stadium! The transformation is amazing, and it is fantastic that we now have this incredible revamped athletics facility in Birmingham.

‘I can’t wait to compete here and to be able to do that in front of a huge crowd, packed with British fans will make this the Games a very, very special occasion.’

Laura’s last Commonwealth Games appearance was at Glasgow 2014 – she didn’t make the trip to Gold Coast in 2018 because she was completing her Veterinary Medicine finals, graduating from The University of Glasgow later that same year.

The news comes soon after Josh Kerr announced that he was also targeting the Commonwealth Games, meaning both the Scots who won individual Olympic medals this year have pledged to aim for a slot at Birmingham 2022.

It is particularly pleasing given the packed international athletics calendar for next year, which also includes the World Athletics Championships in Oregon and the European Athletics Championships in Munich.

The Games in Birmingham will open on 28 July, with athletics – including para events – taking place in the Alexander Stadium, which is currently undergoing a £72 million makeover.

Adding temporary seating alongside the giant new stand will increase the capacity to around 30,000 for the duration of the Games.

Those keen to attend are encouraged to submit their ticket applications, with many sessions in high demand and the deadline fast approaching (the ballot closes on 30 September at 8pm). Tickets start at £8 for under 16s and £15 for adults and are only available through the official website – birmingham2022.com

Below: Josh Kerr also keen to compete at Birmingham 2022