London to benefit from nearly a hundred 2012 Games training camps

Click here for a list of the London facilities can be found on the London 2012 website

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Facilities across the capital have been selected to appear in a national guide listing training venues for athletes in the run up to the 2012 Games.

The Pre-Games Training Camp Guide, which contains over 600 high quality elite sporting facilities across the UK, will be circulated to all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) for them to decide where to base themselves or use to prepare and acclimatise for London 2012.

Out of the 96 training venues selected in London, two thirds are from non-host boroughs, spreading the benefits of staging the 2012 Games across the city. Out of the 36 Olympic sporting disciplines, London is providing training facilities for 28 of them, which include a mixture of major and specialist centres including universities and schools, community facilities, and sport specific clubs.

To encourage teams and athletes to base themselves in the UK in the run up to the Games, The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) will also offer a £25, 000 grant to each National Olympic and Paralympic Committee who wish to train here. This is the first time this funding has been available.

Mayor of London said:

‘This shows what an excellent range of sporting facilities is currently available to Londoners and which might in 2012 be used by some of the world's greatest athletes. London is well ahead with construction of the 2012 Olympic Park and its plans for the regeneration of east London and the 2012 legacy is also being felt with a whole range of opportunities for Londoners to obtain training and develop new career changing skills. That nearly a sixth of all Pre-Games training facilities have been selected in London shows the breadth of facilities already available across the capital.’

John Brewer, Chair of the London Sports Board said:

‘It is a tribute to Sport England that the Guide highlights so many sports facilities available to both elite athletes and the community which have investment through Lottery and Community Club Development Programme funding, examples of such facilities in London include Brunel University in Hillingdon, St. Mary's University College in Richmond, the Score in Waltham Forest and Redbridge Judo Club. We are delighted to have created a backbone of world standard sports venues not just in London but throughout the country.’

Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee, commented:

‘We said that we wanted the London Games to be for athletes, and the facilities listed in this Guide will really help overseas athletes prepare well.  It also provides a great opportunity for areas throughout the UK to get involved in our plans.  The process we have been through shows a great spread of high quality facilities throughout the UK that can be used by elite level athletes.  The new website will continue to be an asset to keep an up-to-date log of the elite facilities we have across the UK.’

Tessa Jowell, Olympics Minister, said:  

‘The strength and diversity of our sporting infrastructure is demonstrated by so many high quality facilities having met the strict criteria to be included in this Guide.  This is a real opportunity for communities across the UK to capitalise on the benefits that hosting 2012 offers.  There are no guarantees of success just by making it into the Guide.  There will be fierce competition to host foreign teams and individuals, and now it is for every nation and region, every venue, to sell itself internationally.’

Ends

Notes to editors:

1.      A full breakdown of the number of facilities per borough is below. Facilities were invited to apply in July 2006. The assessment process was carried out during 2007. 639 facilities from the UK are listed, with 99 facilities for London (96 of which are sporting facilities).

2.      Out of 33 boroughs, there are venues selected for the guide from 30 boroughs, as no applications for venues were received from Westminster, Camden or Barking and Dagenham Boroughs.

3.      Extensive details of the facilities will appear on a Visit London website developed with LOCOG showcasing the quality and variety of options throughout the UK which will help NOCs and NPCs decide where to train. The website will be published online in Beijing during the 2008 Games.

4.      Facilities were assessed against strict technical criteria such as the ability to offer high quality sports training facilities, experience of hosting elite teams, comfortable but affordable accommodation, ability to offer appropriate catering, good transport links, access to a good hospital, and good sports science facilities. Sport England were consultees in the review process.

5.      Sport England is a non-departmental public body and National Lottery distributor committed to creating a world leading community sports development system and increasing participation in sport.