Events

This one is staged in Glasgow, right, what can you tell me about the Kelvin Hall?

Quite a bit. It opened back in 1927 as a mixed arts and sports venue and has hosted everything from world championship boxing bouts to the British rock band The Kinks.

Okay, yes, but does it have much of an athletics tradition?

Yes, since the late Eighties the venue has regularly staged international indoor athletics with the likes of world 400m record holder Michael Johnson and world long jump record holder Mike Powell featuring at the Kelvin Hall. It also held the 1990 European Indoor Championships, an event in which the gold medalists included Linford Christie in the 60m and local boy Tom McKean in the 800m.

So what can you tell me about the 2011 Aviva International Match?

Well, it is a team event in which Great Britain will meet Sweden, Germany, USA and a Commonwealth Select team over a number of disciplines. Points are accumulated by the individual athletes for their team in each event and the team with the most points at the end of the competition will win the match.

So who triumphed 12 months ago?

Great Britain, thanks to the efforts of the likes of European long jump bronze medallist Chris Tomlinson and Commonwealth 200m champion Leon Baptiste winning their specialist events. World and European heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis of Great Britain also famously took the scalp of top US athlete Lolo Jones to clinch crucial and unexpected points in the women’s 60m hurdles.

Really. Are the pair renewing their rivalry this year?

Yes they are. Ennis, the multi-eventer, will be keen to once again show her potential in the sprint hurdles while Jones, who went on to win the 2010 World Indoor title in March, will be desperate to prove she is boss in her speciality. Ennis will also be in action in the long jump.

Haven’t we also got a fascinating clash to look forward to in the men’s 60m hurdles?

We most certainly do. Here the European and Commonwealth 110m hurdles champion Andy Turner of Great Britain faces US superstar David Oliver, the World 110m hurdles No.1 from 2010. Oliver was unbeaten in all 15 outdoor 110m hurdles races last season and ran a personal best of 12.89 for a new US record so he is expected to provide red-hot opposition.

Haven’t the pair got a good pedigree at the Kelvin Hall?

Too right. Turner landed victory in this race in 2007 and Oliver triumphed in 2008 and 2010. However, Oliver has triumphed in all five of their previous indoor clashes against Turner and will be the man to beat.

Anything else to wet the appetite?

Yes, British middle-distance star Jenny Meadows will feature in the 800m. The World Indoor silver medallist loves competing on the boards and she will be seeking to clinch victory in the event at Glasgow for the third time having also won in 2008 and 2010.

Who will be her main rival?

Her Great Britain team-mate Marilyn Okoro represents the Commonwealth Select team and is a formidable rival at her best. The Londoner is now over the injury issues which hampered her progress last year and will be looking to make an early season statement.

Any other names likely to feature at the Aviva International?

European and Commonwealth 100m silver medallist Mark Lewis-Francis enjoyed a resurgent 2010 and he plans to compete in the 60m sprint, Blink, though, and you’ll miss it.

Where can I catch the action?

The Aviva International Match can be watched live on BBC1 and the BBC Sport website.