Pole-vaulter Mondo Duplantis has followed in the footsteps of Usain Bolt by lending his name to a reduced-price ticket scheme for children.
The Swedish field athlete’s Mondo Ticket will allow young people to watch the European Championships in Birmingham for £6.31, a price that mirrors his world record height.
Jack Buckner, chief of UK Athletics, said the aim is to “make sure the European Championships is accessible to as many people as possible.”
Buckner 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.”
Jamaica’s Bolt was the last athlete to have a similar 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.
The initiative is designed to bring young people into the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, an arena that saw sold-out stands during 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.”
He continued: “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, most recently reaching new ground at his own Mondo Classic in March.
His consistent record-breaking has firmly established the pole-vaulter as the new face of athletics on the world stage.
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.”
Alexander added that organisers are eager to see Duplantis perform in Birmingham, describing the event as shaping up to be a landmark occasion for British athletics.
The European Championships represents a significant moment for the UK, marking the country’s first time hosting the European Athletics Championships.