Saturday 31 October marks 1,000 days to go to the London
2012 Olympic Games - a milestone being celebrated through a range
of activities at the English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS),
Lilleshall and Bisham Abbey national sports centres.
The national sports centres, managed by Sport England, provide
training and competition facilities to a range of national
governing bodies, as well as the wider community, and will be key
in giving talented athletes the sporting opportunities they need to
best prepare for London 2012.
On Friday 30 October Bisham and Lilleshall each hosted a
celebratory lunch for members of local government, schools, sports
clubs and their resident national governing bodies, which include
England Hockey and British Gymnastics respectively.
Facilities at the two centres cater to a wide range of sports.
Bisham includes a strength and conditioning gym, training and
agility area, tennis courts, football, hockey and rugby pitches,
while Lilleshall offers gymnastics, sports and activity halls,
squash courts, archery ranges, and a sports rehabilitation
centre.
Meanwhile the EISS will celebrate 1,000 days by hosting a table
tennis event on Saturday 31 October, which will challenge two
players - including Alan Cooke, Women's Head Coach at the British
Table Tennis Federation - to complete 1,000 shots within 20 minutes
and 12 seconds. Offering facilities such as an athletics arena,
table tennis, boxing halls, and a health and fitness gym, the EISS
is one of England’s most impressive sports venues, used by both the
community and the elite.
The centres are set to be the training venues for a number of
sports in the run up to 2012, including:
- Hockey, tennis, canoeing and rowing (Bisham)
- Archery, gymnastics and wheelchair basketball (Lilleshall)
- Basketball, table tennis, boxing, volleyball and handball
(EISS).
1000 volunteers in 1000 days
The centres are also launching a Volunteer Initiative – a
campaign designed to raise awareness of volunteering opportunities
at the Games, with the aim of registering 1,000 volunteers in 1,000
days.
Matt Holt, Programme Director at the British Amateur Boxing
Association (BABA), based at the EISS, said: “This initiative is a
great way to celebrate the milestone countdown to London 2012.
Volunteering is vital for any major sporting event to run smoothly.
When people volunteer at EIS Sheffield they can see for themselves
the excitement of sport and the fantastic facilities we have. They
can spread the word and generate more interest for a legacy of
sport in the future.”
Our investment in the centres demonstrates our ongoing
commitment to nurture talented athletes – both in the community and
those preparing for London 2012 - and to provide the opportunities
they need to excel.
Find out more about our national
centres