Plans for a £12.25 million ($19.41 million) redevelopment of the Birmingham Alexander Stadium were given the green-light in September, with work already underway on a new 5,000-seater stand.

Work is scheduled to finish in May and Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture Cllr Martin Mullaney is relishing the prospect of welcoming top global stars to the new-look stadium.

He said: "We're developing the stadium because we want to attract high profile events to the city and they don't come much higher profile than the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix and the Samsung Diamond League."

With the arrival of the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix - part of the Samsung Diamond League- the city will become one of 14 hosting the top 80 athletes in the world as part of a truly global league.

It joins the ranks of New York, Rome, Shanghai and Monaco attracting worldwide television audiences, with 50 million viewers tuning in for the two UK meetings in 2010.

The city has also extended its contracts to host the Aviva UK Trials and Championships and this too will be held at Alexander Stadium in 2011.

Leader of Birmingham City Council Mike Whitby has hailed the deal as "another major coup for Birmingham, underlining our status as Britain's Sporting City".

And UK Athletics chief executive Niels de Vos says Birmingham sports fans can look forward to elite competition featuring a host of major stars: "We are delighted to be bringing the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix to the City as part of the Samsung Diamond League.

"The people of Birmingham will get to see the world's greatest athletes on their doorstep in the run up to the Olympics."

Launched this summer, the Samsung Diamond League is made up of 14 meetings spread across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States, showcasing 32 athletics disciplines featuring the cream of world talent.

Whitby said: "This is another major sporting coup for the city of Birmingham underlining our status as Britain's Sporting City.

"Remember we're preparing to host training camps for the USA and Jamaica ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games and this deal means we now get to see dozens of the world's top athletes in action at our very own Birmingham Alexander Stadium."

De Vos added: "Birmingham now plays host to three events in the Aviva Series; the Aviva Grand Prix at the NIA in February, the Aviva UK Trials and Championships and now the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix, both in July.

"This cements the city's status as one that is committed to bringing world class sport to its citizens.

"We now look forward to welcoming the people of Birmingham and the West Midlands to the newly refurbished Birmingham Alexander Stadium to see the world's best Olympians in action."

Commonwealth champion and Birchfield Harrier Louise Hazel is delighted at the prospect of competing against the world's best in her own city: ""I'm really looking forward to the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix arriving in my home city.

"This is an amazing opportunity for Birchfield Harriers and Birmingham Alexander Stadium to gain some much needed recognition.

"With the track having been newly re-laid I'm sure that there will be some fast times and distances recorded, it's going to be one exciting weekend.

"On a personal note, I can't wait to show Team Hazel supporters and sponsors in the local area just what athletics is all about."

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