Local Training Venues Included in 2012 Olympic Games Guide
| Published: 9th March 2008 11:26 |
Eastleigh Borough and Southampton City Councils are celebrating major achievements in the world of sport.
Two of the Borough's sporting venues together with facilities in Southampton have been included in London's 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide.
The announcement by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games recognises the high quality of leisure facilities in the area.
It follows a comprehensive joint submission from Eastleigh Borough Council/Dynamo School of Gymnastics in Hamble, the Rose Bowl, Southampton City Council and the University of Southampton to Sport England in January 2007.
The Training Camp Guide will be presented to the National Olympic Committee at the Beijing Olympics later this year and organisations will then decide where they base themselves or where to send individual athletes to prepare and acclimatise for London 2012.
Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee commented "We said we wanted the London Games to be for athletes and the facilities listed in the Guide will really help overseas athletes prepare well. The process has shown a great spread of high quality facilities throughout the UK that can be used by elite athletes."
The facilities to be included are at Dynamo School of Gymnastics at Hamble Sports College where the state of the art gymnasium is highly regarded both nationally and internationally. The list also includes the University of Southampton's Jubilee Sports Centre and its sailing facilities; the city's international diving facilities at The Quays; and the Southampton Gymnastics Centre at Redbridge. The Rose Bowl is also featured in the Guide offering archery.
Eastleigh's Council Leader, Keith House said "This is excellent news which recognises the borough's facilities at the highest levels within sport. We have achieved the best of both worlds with our partners. Facilities for excellence which can also be used and enjoyed by the whole community."
Southampton's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Neighbourhoods, Councillor Derek Burke, said: "We are thrilled with the success of the joint working group, which has had all of its recommendations accepted. This really supports the Active Southampton partners' ambition to maximise the benefits of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games for the city. We're now looking forward to welcoming sports people from all over the world to Southampton."
