London's former Olympic Stadium set to host Grand Prix Final

The world's best para-athletes are set to head back to London's former Olympic Stadium this summer after it was announced that the IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final is due to be staged there on Sunday 26 July.

Around 150 of the world's leading para-athletes, including multiple world and Paralympic champions are expected to compete in the event which is due to take place on the third and final day of the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games.

The event - the last major para-athletics meeting prior to October's World Championships in Doha, Qatar - will also coincide with National Paralympic Day, a sporting celebration of the Paralympic Movement, which is organised annually by the British Paralympic Association.

It will be the third time National Paralympic Day has taken place within Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and organisers will announce a thrilling day of activity shortly.

July's final is the climax of the third annual IPC Athletics Grand Prix series which was launched in 2013. This year, nine other Grand Prix events are taking place in five continents around the world and the first took place this week in Dubai, UAE.

From there events will take place in Brisbane, Australia; Tunis, Tunisia; Beijing, China; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Mesa, USA; Nottwil, Switzerland; Grosseto, Italy and Berlin, Germany.

Ryan Montgomery, the Head of IPC Athletics, said: "We are very excited to be taking this showcase event to a venue which holds so many great memories for millions of people around the world.

"During London 2012 the venue was packed every single day, as it was for the Anniversary Games in 2013, and I am confident that with another bumper crowd it will spur the athletes onto great achievements.

"The Sainsbury's Anniversary Games are the climax of our biggest ever Grand Prix series and will act as the perfect curtain raiser to October's World Championships.

"It will also give athletes a taster of what they can expect when the iconic venues stages the 2017 IPC Athletics World Championships."

The 20 events that will make up the IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final will be announced in the coming weeks.

The former Olympic Stadium is currently closed as work continues to transform it into the new national competition centre for British Athletics in 2016 and the permanent home of English Premier League team West Ham United.

However, it is set to open in July to host the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games, which kick off with the a two day Diamond League meeting on Friday 24 July and close with the Sainsbury's IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final on Sunday 26 July.

To register interest for tickets to the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games visit britishathletics.org.uk.

For further information, please contact Craig Spence, IPC Director of Media and Communications, on e-mail: craig.spence@paralympic.org or call +49-228-2097-230.

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