Birmingham to host 2012 BMX World Championships

British Cycling has announced that Birmingham will host the UCI BMX World Championships in May 2012, just three months before the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Birmingham won the bid to host the Championships - beating Copenhagen (Denmark), Auckland (New Zealand) and Rotterdam (Holland) - for its central location and top class sporting facilities, as well as the commitment of British Cycling and Birmingham City Council to create a lasting legacy for the sport in the city. The event will be held in the National Indoor Arena on 24 - 27 May.

A BMX track at Birmingham's Perry Park will be renovated for riders to practice and compete at a top-class facility.

Ian Drake, CEO at British Cycling, commented: “The event will present a great opportunity for people to engage with BMX on their doorstep and will prompt a significant investment into the discipline through the development of world-class facilities.

“Ultimately, it’s about encouraging youngsters to get on their bike and creating a lasting legacy. I am confident the continued success of our athletes will help us do just that by inspiring new generations of BMX riders for many years to come.”

UCI President, Pat McQuaid, said: “I am confident that, with the expertise and the enthusiasm of British Cycling and all other partners involved in this great project, we will offer a fantastic edition of the Championships to the worldwide BMX community.”