Council hails announcement on London 2012 training camps

12.06.00pm GMT Mon 10th Mar 2008

• THE news that four sports facilities in the borough have been recommended as pre-Olympic training camps for London 2012 has been hailed a major boost for local sport by Richmond Council.

St Mary's University College, Twickenham Stadium, the Royal Canoe Club, Teddington, and the Bu-Sen Martial Arts and Fitness Centre will be offered to national Olympic and Paralympic Committees. They will be among over 600 elite sporting facilities available as a base for athletes to prepare and acclimatise for the London Games.

Cllr John Coombs, Cabinet Member for Youth, Culture and Leisure on Richmond Council, said: "I am delighted that four of the borough's venues have been listed in the Pre-Games Training Camp Guide and hope that many countries choose to send their teams to the area to train. Many British and international athletes already use the excellent facilities at St Mary's and are currently preparing there for the Beijing Olympics this summer. The Council, through schemes such as Competitive Edge, is already creating a sporting legacy in the borough by encouraging more young people to take part in competitive sport. This is a fantastic opportunity for the borough, which will boost the local economy and ensure that the Olympic legacy reaches us too. The London Olympics will be a spectacular event and as taxpayers across the capital are contributing to the cost it is only right that we should all feel the benefit. We look forward to welcoming athletes from across the globe in 2012."