The start of this year’s UK Indoor Athletics Championship was delayed by an hour due to a fire at the Utilita Arena.
Fans and media members were evacuated from the venue in Birmingham as fire service crews quickly arrived on the scene.
@KatharineMerry on XMedia and fans were evacuated following a fire at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham[/caption]
According to athletics commentator and Olympic bronze medallist Katharine Merry, the fire began in a kitchen.
Merry also shared a clip of smoke hanging in the air next to the venue as people gathered outside following the evacuation.
“Not made it into the Utilita Arena yet,” Merry wrote on X.
“It’s been fully evacuated due to a fire. Fire brigade here and smoke coming from the top floor.”
The UK Athletics account on X confirmed the action would be delayed by an hour due to the fire, but expected it would not impact on Sunday’s timetable of events.
“The start of the 2025 Microplus UK Athletics Indoor Championships has been delayed by one hour, following an incident that required the evacuation of the Utilita Arena in Birmingham this morning, Saturday 22 February,” UK Athletics said.
“A one hour delay to the timetable has been agreed in order to athletes, officials and spectators adequate time to prepare for the day’s events.
“Saturday’s timetable of events is now expected start at 12:25.
“Spectators will experience a delay to the opening of the arena, and should keep across UK Athletics channels for further information.
“There is currently no expected delay to Sunday’s timetable.
“Further information will be released on UK Athletics channels in due course.”
The UK Indoor Athletics Championships double as the trials for the European Indoor Championships, which will be held in Apeldoorn from March 6 to March 9.
A number of Paris Olympic medallists are among the field in Birmingham, including Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Georgia Bell, Amy Hunt and Lina Nielsen.
Johnson-Thompson, a two-time world champion, picked up a silver medal thanks to her performance in the women’s heptathlon.
Bell, who went to university in Birmingham, claimed her first Olympic medal when she finished third in the women’s 1500m event.
Nottingham native Hunt, 22, was a member of the women’s 4x100m that finished second while Nielsen picked up a bronze medal in the women’s 4x400m relay.
