Greg Rutherford fears that athletics could begin to die out as a top-level sport unless those in charge embrace events such as street games as a way of attracting new supporters.
The Olympic long jump champion is one of the star turns at the Great North CityGames on the banks of the Tyne in Gateshead this afternoon, which hopes to attract several thousand spectators on the eve of the Bupa Great North Run who will see world-class athletes free.
“This is the way athletics is going to have to go to keep it afloat,” said Rutherford, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships this summer. “You can definitely see there is a fall in interest and investment, sadly.
“It’s all over the world. You used to have competitions in Greece and Italy, they’ve all gone now, there’s just no money in it. If you could put something like this all over the country first and then the rest of the world, it would be incredible. You put it to music, you still have the best athletes turning up and you get close [to the action]. You don’t have to sit there for hours if you don’t want to. Somebody can nip off, get their groceries, come back, watch another jump, nip off again, come back and watch the final round.”
Rutherford takes on Christian Taylor, the Olympic triple jump champion, in today’s event, as well as Ignisious Gaisah, the double world silver medal-winner representing the Netherlands, and Rutherford’s British rivals, Chris Tomlinson and JJ Jegede.
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Other big names include Allyson Felix, the multiple Olympic champion, who faces Jodie Williams, Bianca Williams and Asha Philip over a straight 150 metres, Bernard Lagat in the mile and the pole vault superstars Jenn Suhr and Fabiana Murer, as well as the British stars Christine Ohuruogu, Elidh Child and Lynsey Sharp, who run over 500 metres.
Perhaps most interest could come in the men’s 110 metres hurdles, which features the final race of Andy Turner’s career, taking in William Sharman and the past two Olympic champions, Dayron Robles and Aries Merritt.
Having been beaten in a thrilling sprint finish on the South Shields seafront by Kenenisa Bekele last year, Mo Farah will tomorrow bid to become the first British male winner of the Great North Run since 1985. The biggest competition should come from Stephen Kiprotich, the world and Olympic marathon champion from Uganda, although Bekele’s younger brother, Tariku, is also in the field for the world’s most famous half-marathon, which will celebrate its millionth finisher this year.
Victory will mean a “great season”, says Farah, despite disappointment in the London marathon and health problems that led to him missing the Commonwealth Games. “The only pressure is on yourself,” he said. “I like to be able to get out there and win it. We’ll just have to see how the race goes.”
• Justin Gatlin routed high-class fields in the 100 metres and 200 metres at last night’s final Diamond League meeting in Brussels. He ran 9.77sec, this year’s fastest time, to win the 100 metres and barely an hour later won the 200 in 19.71, only three hundredths of a second outside the leading time this year. James Dasaolu had a poor start in the 100 metres but finished fifth in 10.00, his fastest time this year and third fastest of his career. “To run a season’s best in a high-class field, I’m happy,” he said.