THE Commonwealth Games athletics track at the City of Manchester Stadium will be moved to Birmingham, it has been revealed.
Plans are near completion to move most of the track to the National Indoor Arena in time for the World Indoor Athletics Championships in March 2003.
It will be taken out of Manchester's stadium two weeks after the Games, cut up into pieces and placed on pallets to be shipped to Birmingham.
Workers will then start building a permanent fourth stand at the City of Manchester Stadium to replace the current temporary one.
Sport England chief executive David Moffett said: "It is one more example of the affordable games that will leave a legacy of sport rather than a legacy of debt. All the equipment purchased with lottery money for the Games will be redistributed around the country."
The City of Manchester Stadium will become a 50,000-capacity home for Manchester City Football Club.
Cllr Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: "We have shown the world that England can host superb international sporting events and we welcome Sport England's decision to transfer the running track."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article