Duplantis follows Bolt in having special ticket for athletics fans
Pole-vaulter Mondo Duplantis has followed in the footsteps of Usain Bolt by putting his name to a category of reduced price tickets for children.
The Swedish field athlete’s Mondo Ticket will see young people able to watch the European Championships in Birmingham for £6.31, which mimics his world record.
Jack Buckner, chief of UK Athletics, told Morning Wire that the aim is “make sure the European Championships is accessible to as many people as possible”.
He added: “What better way to spend a summer Friday morning in the school holidays than watching the greatest athlete in the world compete for £6.31.”
The fastest man on earth, Jamaica’s Bolt, was the last athlete to have such a ticketing scheme for a competition in the UK, putting his name to the Bolt Ticket at the London World Athletics Championships nearly a decade ago.
Duplantis and Bolt in same boat
The move is aimed at getting young people into the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham for the Championships. The arena saw sold out stands for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Duplantis said: “Setting a world record in front of any crowd is special, but it means even more knowing young fans and families can experience pole vault, and even another record, at a special world record price.
“6.31m is a major milestone I’m proud of, and I’m excited to celebrate it with fans – I hope to see young supporters from Birmingham, across the UK and Europe in the stands.”
Duplantis has broken the world record 15 times since 2020, having most recently reaches new ground at his own Mondo Classic in March. It speaks to the pole-vaulter being the new face of athletics.
Cherry Alexander, Birmingham 2026 Championship director, said: “Mondo’s record speaks for itself. Having a three-time European Champion, Olympic, World and Diamond League champion front a ticket offer adds real excitement to what is already shaping up to be a hugely family-friendly championship, during the UK’s first-ever European Athletics Championships. We can’t wait to see him shine in Birmingham.”