AN Olympic Gold medal-winning hurdler says Birmingham is ready to host a major global sporting event like the 2022 Commonwealth Games , if only it can sort out the traffic congestion.

America’s 100m hurdler Dawn Harper-Nelson gave a massive thumbs up to Birmingham and its sporting facilities as she arrived at Alexander Stadium to begin final training for next months World Athletics Championships in London.

The 33-year-old has been to Birmingham five or six times to compete, including in Diamond League events and in the run up to London 2012 , and says she enjoys the training facilities, the hotels and visiting our cinemas and restaurants.

She said: “I do love coming here, I don’t have to worry about not having things – Birmingham have done it right.

American athletes Natasha Hastings and Dawn Harper-Nelson

“You have the perfect facilities with for indoor and outdoor here. I don’t have to worry how the weather will be – the track is great, the hurdles are here and the blocks.”

She said Birmingham could definitely stage a major event like the Commonwealth Games but admitted sharing the traffic frustrations with thousands of Brummie commuters.

“When they’ve held Diamond Leagues time and time again they’ve had the practice. But there’s one thing for us, which we always think of, is timing and traffic.” She said the UK’s traffic can be ‘intense’.

“Your facilities are great, the fans are great, you’ve had the surveys to see what the athletes want, you handle the visits very well here, it’s just that traffic. When you’re in that bus and trying to get to your destination and you have to leave and hour ahead.”

Ms Harper-Nelson stressed that despite the experience from previous stays here, the trip to the Stadium on Friday morning had gone ‘well’.

The USA Track and Field team returned to Alexander Stadium after using it as a training base for the London Olympics five years ago. Ms Harper-Nelson was joined by 4x400m relay runner Natasha Hastings for interviews and a photocall while other USA Track and Field team members including sprinters Isiah Young and Justin Gatlin, limbered up inside the stadium.

Team members also took part in a community sports day with local children in Perry Park next to the stadium.

The 150 strong American team arrived in Birmingham a day after the Jamaicans set up camp at the University of Birmingham.

Birmingham is 'home from home' for Jamaican athletes

Jaheel Hyde, Don Quarrie (1976 Olympics Gold and Silver medal winner) and Danielle Williams

Top athletes from Jamaican Track and Field team have described Birmingham as a ‘home from home’ as they arrived for their World Athletics Championship training camp.

Although his team mates are settling in at the University of Birmingham, global sprint star Usain Bolt yet to arrive on campus.

Team vice-president Ian Forbes said the Olympic champion and World’s fastest man is ‘training well’ for his final race before he retires from competitive racing.

Mr Forbes said: “We will certainly miss him, his presence, he’s inspirational but we are hopeful that he will remain around the sport and support us when called upon.”

The University came in for major praise from the track relay stars after they hosted the team for 12 days before the 2012 Olympic Games. Bolt along with Yohan Blake and Warren Weir famously said ‘Big Up Birmingham’ after their Olympic 200m win at London 2012.

This time, the Jamaicans have been making use of the university’s new eight-lane athletics track and £55 million Sport & Fitness Club, which opened in May.

Danielle Williams

Don Quarrie, who won gold in the 200metres in the 1972 Olympics, called the facilities a ‘home from home’.

He said: “we were successful in 2012, being here this year will help us to be even more successful because you have a brand new track. We regard this as our home from home and we look forward to doing well in London next week.”

Sprint hurdlers Danielle Williams and Jaheel Hyde also endorsed Birmingham’s bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games .

Zena Wooldridge OBE, Director of Sport, said: “We are incredibly fortunate to have such amazing new facilities on campus, and very excited to have the opportunity of the World Athletics Championships in London to share our new track and indoor facilities with our Jamaican friends.