ATHLETICS legend Sebastian Coe will visit Suffolk today to witness how the Olympics is inspiring a new generation of talent.
Russell Claydon
ATHLETICS legend Sebastian Coe will visit Suffolk today to witness how the Olympics is inspiring a new generation of talent.
The chairman of the London 2012 organising committee will be viewing sporting facilities in Bury St Edmunds to see a number of projects which are increasing sport participation.
A number of Suffolk Olympians and Paralympians will meet Lord Coe, including Ipswich-based hockey player Jo Ellis, wheelchair athlete Brian Alldis, from Bury St Edmunds, and wheelchair basketball player Caroline Maclean, from Haverhill.
Young local athletes with SportsAid scholarships will also get a chance to speak with him.
Adam Baker, Suffolk project manager for the London 2012 Games, said: “I think it is really exciting and a great credit to all the organisations putting in the time and effort to use the games to benefit the county.
“There is a huge amount Suffolk has to offer as a county as a whole and in west Suffolk there is a lot of opportunities from sporting
to business to tourism.”
Lord Coe's Bury St Edmunds visit follows news that the Rwandan Olympic committee is considering the area as a possible training camp ahead of 2012. Discussions are said to be at an advanced stage.
A number of projects will be showcased during today's visit including “Fit4Future” - a subsidised gym membership pilot-scheme designed to get young people aged 16-22 active; Healthy Ambitions Suffolk Challenge - an accredited project aimed at helping to make Suffolk children the healthiest in the UK; and the Great East Swim taking place at Alton Water near Ipswich in September.
Lord Coe will also present two up and coming athletes with Suffolk County Council SportsAid Scholarships.
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