World Athletics Indoor Championships can inspire Glasgow

Some of the top athletes on the planet are getting ready to descend on Glasgow for the World Athletics Indoor Championships.

Three action-packed days at the Emirates Arena will kick off on Friday 1 March, with elite talent battling it out for medals.

700 competitors from 130 nations are expected to take part to fine-tune their Olympic preparations, while it will also gives locals a chance to experience the action.

Spectators will see a range of events including sprints, endurance races, high jump and shot put.

Six sessions will take place over that weekend with 5,000 fans set to pack out the complex for six separate sessions to cheer on stars from home and abroad.

Former Olympic, Commonwealth and World medal winner Eilidh Doyle is hoping it can inspire the next generation: "This kick starts hopefully what is going to be a really exciting year of sport in Glasgow.

"It's hard to believe it is a decade since the Commonwealth Games came to Glasgow.

"That really set the standard of championships happening in this country and in this city.

"As an athlete it is the highlight of my career. It is something I'll never, ever forget.

"Having that opportunity for athletes to go to the Emirates Arena and compete in front of a home crowd again is such a special moment.

"To see any live sport you feel that atmosphere, nerves and intensity and it is really inspiring.

"I think that is why it is so important to have events happening locally in the city".

Mark Pollard, head of performance at Scottish Athletics, agrees: "It is really exciting to have a major championships in our country.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing the athletes from across the continents come to Glasgow and give their best.

"We want to see as many Scots as possible make Team GB, and when you get to the championships, going and performing well.

"What we would like to get out of it is enthusing Scottish youngsters to be excited and interested in athletics - regardless of whether that is jumps, throws, endurance of sprints.

"Hopefully they'll also see a level of Scottish success so they can relate to that and think 'that could be me'".

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