City sports facilities to lure Olympic athletes

Mar 3 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL is set to host some of the world’s top athletes ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.

The Wavertree Sports Park, which includes the city’s new aquatic centre, will be unveiled today as part of the 2012 Games Training Camp Directory. And the Park Road Sports Centre in Toxteth, where World Champion gymnast Beth Tweedle practises, will also be included.

Sporting figures in the city are hopeful its worldwide reputation will lead to some of the top teams choosing to train in Liverpool ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

Beth, who has been training at the sports centre since the age of 12, said: “The centre is definitely one of the best facilities in Europe and I’m sure it will attract Olympic teams for training. It is one of only a handful of centres to provide hard and soft training grounds.

“This is essential, because during pre-training athletes need softer surfaces to avoid injury.

“I’m sure countries being given this guide will consider Liverpool because it’s in the right time zone to acclimatise and I think financial benefits are also going to be offered to train in the UK.

“When I trained in Barcelona, during our half-days off it was a good 30 minute ride into town, here, the city of Liverpool is right on the doorstep with all its museums, social scene and culture.

“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.”

Liverpool Aquatics Centre in Wavertree, which aims to compete with the best pools in the country, is due to open on Saturday, March 15.

Last night Council leader Warren Bradley said: “This is a fantastic boost just weeks before the opening of the pool and I am absolutely delighted.

“Not only will it be a training base for our own team of elite swimmers it will also play host to some of the top sporting nations as they prepare for the 2012 games.

“It will also inspire future champions.”

The state-of-the-art facility will be one of only a handful of Olympic-size pools in the UK.

It is three pools in one, with the main pool designed to be divided in two, plus another 20-metre pool.

It has a unique moveable floor to allow the depth of the water to be varied. Last month, the Daily Post revealed the pool will cost £27m in interest and debt repayments over 20 years after building costs rose to £16.9m from £12m.

Today Stewart Kellet, regional director for Sport England NW, which contributed £4m to the costs of the new pool will visit the site in Wellington Road.

Mr Kellet will announce the region’s world-class venues to be included in the 2012 Games Training Camp Directory.

Although the city will face competition from other UK cities to host the top Olympians it is hoped that having previously held international events will play in Liverpool’s favour.

OPINION: PAGE 10

davidbartlett