Belfast To Play Host To Potential Olympic Champions

Belfast is celebrating after four of its main sports sites were named as potential Pre-Olympic Games Training Camps.

The London 2012 committee has chosen Andersonstown Leisure Centre (Boxing), Grove Wellbeing Centre (Road Cycling), Olympis Leisure Centre (Football) and the Mary Peters Track (Athletics) for inclusion in its Pre-Olympics guide which will be issued to all countries competing in the games.

Councillor Bob Stoker, Chairman of the Parks and Leisure Committee, said: "It's a fabulous opportunity for Belfast and will lift our profile around the world. We are delighted to welcome potential Olympic champions to our city. It is brilliant to have them using our facilities and I think it is so important for the development of our own young athletes.

"For young people to be able to see athletes who will be competing in the London 2012 Olympics training in their local leisure centre or at the Mary Peters Track is really inspiring. And I hope it will help spur them on to practice and compete in sport, be it locally, nationally or internationally.

"It also highlights that we have first class facilities on offer on a daily basis for the people of Belfast and beyond to use. Belfast City Council intends to continue working hard to profile our facilities in partnership with local sporting clubs and organisations in the run-up to 2012."

By being included in this guide Belfast now has the opportunity to attract top class athletes to the city, bringing with them new levels of skill and innovative training regimes.

The guide will be issued to all National Olympic Committees and National Paralympic Committees, who will then decide where to train and prepare for the London 2012 games. Each of these committees will be offered up to £25,000 of a financial reward to encourage them to develop a training base in the UK.

(JM/KMcA)