ATHLETICS NEWS:GOAL, the Third World charity, have secured permission to stage their annual Christmas Day fund-raising mile at Leopardstown Racecourse on Dublin's southside.

The new venue has come in response to the news that the Belfield track is no longer available after the UCD authorities decided to redevelop the site of the track.

GOAL were determined the annual event would be staged, especially as it had to be cancelled last year for the first time since it was instituted 28 years ago because of the severe weather.

Those taking part this year will now thus swap the synthetic tartan track for the green grass of the popular racecourse.

“We are extremely happy that Leopardstown have generously agreed to host the event, particularly as it will be the day before the start of their annual four-day Christmas Festival of Racing” said Lisa O’Shea on behalf of GOAL.

“The new venue is perfect in that Leopardstown is famous across the world for being host to many great events down the year, not only in horse racing.”

It will be recalled the world cross-country championships were staged there in 2002 when the Irish women’s team won the team bronze medals in the short course event.

Previously the championships were held there in 1964.

“Now we hope that all the people who normally have run the mile at Belfield will join us on Christmas Day on this unique setting for the event” said O’Shea.

Jane Davis, on behalf of Leopardstown, said yesterday they were delighted to be able to provide Leopardstown for the flagship GOAL mile.

“We have a long and proud history of hosting athletic endeavours at Leopardstown.”

Individual mile runs will be held from 10am to noon on Christmas morning, with extensive parking available to the participating public. Similar charity mile runs will be held in various other venues throughout the country.