The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has announced that 25 sporting venues across the North West will feature in London 2012’s Pre-Games Training Camp Guide for Paralympic sports which will be published later this summer. The Guide is a comprehensive list of 179 venues throughout the UK which can now be used by Paralympians from all over the world as they make their final preparations for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

Manchester leads the way with eight venues, including Sportcity (which incorporates the velodrome, national squash centre, regional athletics arena and regional tennis centre) Elsewhere the Manchester Aquatics Centre and Sugden Sports Centre (both Oxford Road), Belle Vue regional hockey centre and Amaechi Basketball Centre (Wilbraham Road) are also included on the list.

Wavertree leads the list of Liverpool venues with the Liverpool tennis, aquatics and athletics centres all being selected. Other venues in Liverpool include Aintree Racecourse, Greenbank Sports Academy in Sefton and the Litherland sports park.

Other regions to benefit include Bolton, Stockport, Crewe, Blackpool, Chester, Preston, Widnes and Wigan.

In addition to being available to elite Paralympians in the build up to 2012, each of the sporting venues continue to be used by members of the general public on a day-to-day basis.

Stewart Kellett, Regional Director for Sport England North West, commented: “It’s a fantastic tribute to the region that these venues have been included on such an elite list and it highlights the standard and quality of facilities available to our local communities. The North West has some of the most advanced training facilities in the country and we’ve already had enquiries from some of the strongest Paralympic nations in the world who would potentially like to use our facilities. Such recognition provides fantastic inspiration and a once in a lifetime opportunity for people of the North West to train alongside elite athletes.”  

Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee, said: “The facilities listed in this Guide will really help overseas athletes and teams prepare well for London 2012.  The assessment process we have conducted shows that there is a good spread of high quality sporting facilities for athletes across the board.   I hope that as many teams and athletes as possible take advantage of these facilities.  Our vision is to use the Games to inspire change and change attitudes towards people with a disability. We look forward to welcoming Paralympic athletes to the UK in 2012.”

Four-time Paralympian, and British cycling medal hopeful for Beijing, Sarah Storey MBE added: “It’s a terrific boost to youngsters in the North West that they can use such high quality facilities and train alongside current Paralympic standard athletes. This is a golden opportunity for youngsters to take advantage of and one which should see benefits leading up until 2012 and for years beyond.”

Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People, commented:  “I’m delighted for each of the facilities that are included in the Guide.  We’re looking forward to seeing elite athletes from around the world training here in advance of the Paralympic Games, raising the profile of the Games and engaging with local communities across the UK.”

Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing at the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said: “The Northwest has the experience and facilities to deliver very successful world class sporting events and I am pleased to see an excellent number of Northwest training camps have been selected for inclusion.

“Following the successful hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and four Paralympic World Cups since then, it is clear the region has the expertise required to host visitors and athletes across both Olympic and Paralympic sport.

“The 2012 Games have the potential to make a considerable impact in the Northwest and the NWDA will continue to work hard with partners to ensure the region capitalises upon this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Sport England is also poised to announce a major initiative to identify and encourage young talent within selected disabled sports. Full details will be announced during summer 2008 for the scheme which will open up further pathways for younger athletes to fulfil their dreams.

For more information and to see a full list of facilities, visit www.london2012.com/news

Notes:

The Guide contains a selection of high quality, sporting facilities that meet the technical criteria of national and international sports bodies and also accessibility and support service requirements to be a suitable venue to host Paralympic teams.

The review process has been conducted by LOCOG’s sport department with input from the National Governing Bodies of Sport and a Steering Group with representatives from LOCOG, the British Paralympic Association (BPA) and with input from the Sports Councils for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.  Guidance has also been provided by local London 2012 contacts and regional experts specialising in disability sport. It has been a comprehensive analysis of high quality elite Paralympic sporting facilities in the UK.  It follows on from the publication of Olympic facilities for the Guide in March.

The facilities have been assessed with a strong focus on standards of accessibility and accommodation, plus the commitment of the facilities to co-operate with National Paralympic Committees (NPCs).  Those facilities selected are either capable of hosting a  wide variety of sports  or have been chosen as a Centre of Excellence with a specialism in hosting a particular a specific sport such as Paralympic Athletics,

LOCOG has a training camp financial award scheme which can offer up to £25,000, subject to certain criteria, to help attract National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) to base themselves in the UK.

Extensive details of the facilities will appear on a dedicated website showcasing the quality and variety of options throughout the UK which will help NPCs and NOCs decide where to train.  The national tourism agency, Visit Britain, is developing this new website in partnership with LOCOG and will bring its experience of marketing destinations and tourism products to an international audience.

The full directory will be published at the Beijing Games in August this year and circulated to all National Paralympic Committees. Facilities will range from well known major sporting hubs, to universities and independent schools, community facilities, and sport specific clubs.  The facilities are 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, the ability to offer appropriate catering, good transport links, access to a good hospital, and good sports science facilities.