An all-star line-up has been confirmed for the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games at Horse Guards Parade, London (Sunday 20 July), with nine of the world’s best athletes announcing their participation in the elite event.
The event, which marks the first time athletics has been staged at the iconic location, promises to be one of the most stellar gatherings of elite athletes this year will thrill the 20,000 crowd.
Yohan Blake the second fastest man ever over 100m has confirmed, joining Britain’s Greg Rutherford in targeting both the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games and the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix. The Jamaican will lock horns with the evergreen Kim Collins, who recorded a personal best of 9.97 last year at the age of 37.
Also in the line-up is Olympic pole vault champion Renaud Lavillenie, who broke Sergey Bubka’s long-standing world record in February with a clearance of 6.16m. The Frenchman will return to London after his 2012 triumph and his victory at last year’s Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games, which was held in front of a sell-out 60,000 crowd.
In the men’s 110m hurdles, there will be a high energy battle between 2008 Olympic Champion Dayron Robles, 2012 Olympic Champion and world record holder Aries Merritt and 2013 world champion David Oliver.
Six-time Paralympic and world champion David Weir (Jenny Archer) will also headline proceedings at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games as the ‘Weirwolf’ returns to the scene of his greatest triumph at London 2012.
After an injury-interrupted few years, Blanka Vlasic will return to the high jump as the 2008 Olympic champion looks to return to the heights of 2009, where she cleared 2.09m – a mark only beaten by one other athlete in the history of the event.
Tickets are available on the British Athletics website; you can also win tickets in selected Sainsbury’s stores.