Press Release

On Sunday 15 May BBC Sport brings live coverage of an exciting day of sport from Manchester featuring The Great Manchester Run, The Great Salford Swim and The Great CityGames. The day will see over 40,000 people participate in events, ranging from amateurs to some of the world’s top athletes.

Starting the day is The Great Manchester Run, on BBC Two, 10am–12noon. Jonathan Edwards presents live coverage from the streets of Manchester where Haile Gebrselassie, winner in 2009 and 2010, is once again the star attraction in the men's race. Headlining for Britain will be Helen Clitheroe, who won her first major title with gold at 3000m in the recent European Indoor Championships in Paris. In total some 38,000 runners will take to the streets. Commentary comes from Steve Cram and Paul Dickenson.

Then at 2pm, Matt Baker is joined by five times Olympic Gold medallist Ian Thorpe as Salford Quays plays host to the second staging of The Great Salford Swim. This one mile open water contest will see over 2,000 competitors take to the water, from amateur swimmers to professionals. Former World Champion Keri-Anne Payne and Olympic medallists Cassie Patten and David Davies will take part, plus a host of famous faces from the world of sport and show business.

The Great Salford Swim is also providing a springboard for the launch of the Big Splash, the BBC's sport participation campaign designed to inspire British people of all standards and abilities to take to the water.

To round off the day, Tyson Gay, Jessica Ennis and Allyson Felix are among the athletes lined up to take to the streets of Manchester for the The Great CityGames (BBC Two, 3.30-5pm). John Inverdale and Colin Jackson present the action from Deansgate, in the heart of Manchester's city centre, as stars from around the globe compete on a specially laid athletics track in sprint and hurdle events. Last year Tyson Gay set a straight 200m World record and this year will attempt to beat the 150m World Record set on the same track by Usain Bolt in 2009. Commentary comes from Steve Cram and Paul Dickenson.

Coverage will also be live on BBC Red Button and streamed on the BBC Sport website, and available on the BBC iPlayer for seven days afterwards.

Notes to Editors

Broadcast Schedule:

Bupa Great Manchester Run BBC Two. 10am-12noon

The British Gas Great Salford Swim BBC Two. 2-3.30pm

The (Powerade) Great CityGames BBC Two. 3.30-5pm

Updates and news on BBC Radio 5 Live

Big Splash – The Big Splash is launching this week, a UK-wide campaign that aims to get the nation swimming in the build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. For more information go to www.bbc.co.uk/bigsplash.

LW