Essex makes bid for 2012 training camps
WORLD class athletes could be training at venues in Essex for the 2012 Olympics after a consortium put forward a bid to be a part of the action.The group - including Chelmsford Borough Council, Writtle College, Anglia Ruskin University, Essex County Cricket Club, Great Leighs Racecourse and Chelmsford Hockey Club - has made a formal application to be considered as a training camp for athletes as they bid to acclimatise ahead of the competition.
WORLD class athletes could be training at venues in Essex for the 2012 Olympics after a consortium put forward a bid to be a part of the action.
The group - including Chelmsford Borough Council, Writtle College, Anglia Ruskin University, Essex County Cricket Club, Great Leighs Racecourse and Chelmsford Hockey Club - has made a formal application to be considered as a training camp for athletes as they bid to acclimatise ahead of the competition.
And if successful, equestrian teams could be training at the racecourse, athletes could be using the tracks at Chelmsford Sport and Athletics Centre and archers taking aim at Essex County Cricket Club.
New Hall School, Anglia Ruskin University and Writtle College have also offered accommodation and training facilities.
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Christopher Kingsley, Chelmsford borough councillor in charge of leisure and culture, said he was hopeful the bid would prove successful.
He said: “We want to use the games to promote the area where we live and work. Our close proximity to the London 2012 Olympic Park in Stratford really does provide some tremendous opportunities for the borough.
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“I am confident that Olympic teams will be interested in visiting Chelmsford and making use of our excellent sports facilities in the period leading up to 2012.”
The bid to become a training camp for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been made to the London 2012 Nations and Regions (East), which consists of representatives from the East of England Development Agency and Sport England East.
If the bid gets through the first round of applications, it will be forwarded to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games for further consideration.
The members of that committee will decide which sporting venues will be included in its official guide of approved pre-Olympic training camps, to be published in July next year.
Great Baddow High School, The Claydon Clinic, and the Fitness Academy complete the line-up of partners involved in the consortium.
james.hore@eadt.co.uk
