First European Athletics Championships on British soil marred by ticket-price backlash and empty seats

Birmingham's Alexander Stadium, capacity 23,000, looked barely half full as the first European Athletics Championships held in Britain opened on 10 August. Jenny Meadows and Steve Cram publicly criticised prices — Category A seats hit £110, topping £150 for the final three days. Organisers countered that 50% of tickets were £30 or lower.