NW sporting chance for Olympic hopefuls

Mar 4 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

MORE than 20 sporting venues in the region will play host to world-class athletes after being named as official Olympic Games training sites.

Centres of excellence in the region have been included in the London 2012 training camp guide for the international teams that will be competing in the games proper.

From the Liverpool Aquatics Centre and Aintree Racecourse to smaller clubs and parks specialising in sports including BMX, table tennis and taekwondo, the full list of venues throughout the region was unveiled yesterday.

Stewart Kellett, regional director for Sport England, said Merseyside had “huge aspirations” for sport.

He added: “There is cynicism that the Olympic Games is all in London, but it has got a lot to do with the North West, and here is the evidence.

“Merseyside has a cluster of sports facilities that are Olympic class. This is a fantastic place to come and train for 2012 – you can’t get much better than this.

“What is really nice about the blend of facilities is we have big complexes like this, then small clubs like SKK Judo in St Helens, which are specialist areas for specific sport.

“The thing now is to attract visiting countries, that is the next step.

“So now the call to the globe is come to Merseyside, come to Liverpool, and be inspired.”

Southport swimmer Francesca Halsall, a Merseyside hopeful for the Beijing Olympics this summer, said the new Aquatics Centre, in Wavertree, which opens on March 15, was a boon for the region.

She added: “At the moment, I train in an average 25m pool, so to have these kind of facilities as the Aquatics Centre is amazing. I think it is going to do wonders for Liverpool. I have my Olympic trials in a couple of weeks and this could give my training a real boost.”

Coach Colin Stripe, swimming development officer for Liverpool City Council, added: “It is going to make a tremendous difference. This will allow us to take our young swimmers to the next level.”

Olympic medal winner Steve Parry had to move out of the Merseyside area to Stockport to adequately train for the 2004 Games.

Council leader Warren Bradley said: “We have announced the venues within Merseyside that will play their part in London 2012, and for me, it all starts this year. With this facility opening and all the others in the city and surrounding areas, it is important for us that people take advantage.

“I want to see more and more people in the Olympic Games who have gone through the Liverpool sport development programme.

“People question it, when you have got to make financial decisions, but I am absolutely sure we have got to keep that programme going. People like [Francesca Halsall] are the future.”

Chris Briggs, assistant executive director of culture, and Richard Johnson, head of sports development for the city council, put the bid together.

Mr Briggs said: “This is a great opportunity and Liverpool has got a lot to offer. It is a great tourist destination – in addition to the top facilities, it is a nice place for people to come and stay in.

“After Capital of Culture year, by then we will be even more on the world stage. We have got the facilities, we have got a good track record in international events, and we’ve got our own local talent who will benefit from training alongside athletes from all over the world.

Mr Johnson added: “We have got a record of producing world class athletes in this city.

“At the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002, Liverpool was the most successful sporting city, with 16 podium positions.”

Moving outside of Liverpool, stadiums and other facilities across Sefton, Halton, Warrington, St Helens and Chester will all play their part.

Halton Borough Council's leisure and community manager, John Hatton, said: "It will bring the Olympic games home to people who live here.

“The modern Olympic games doesn't come round very often and it's an event we all want to be part of.”

Duncan Richardson, park project manager at Warrington Council, said: "It's early days yet, but we are delighted that local people might get the chance to see world-class athletes at our training camps in the region.”

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Andy Burnham said: “It is fantastic news that so many sporting facilities in the North West have met the strict criteria to be included in this training camp guide.

“This offers up a real opportunity for communities across this region to feel the excitement of being part of the Games in Britain.

“And this is a chance too for towns and cities to forge strong international links and sell their sporting venues on the world stage.” Speaking at the launch of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2008, former Liverpool player Ian Rush said the Liverpool training camps were good news. “When you look at all the sportsmen past and present that have come out of Liverpool – we are known throughout the world as a sporting city. It goes to show that it’s not just football but anything we do. People coming to Liverpool to train for 2012 will be great for the city.”

World Champion gymnast Beth Tweddle, who trains at Park Road Sports Centre in Toxteth, which also makes the list, said: “The Olympic teams tend to pick one location where all the teams can train. Liverpool has lots of sporting venues to accommodate the various teams. For example, we have two huge football stadiums, lots of sports halls for fencing and netball and lots of boxing gyms.”

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