News

Barbados to come to West Sussex Olympic training venues

Posted on 24/02/10

The Barbados Olympic Association chooses Crawley for its training camps in the run up to the London 2012 Games.

Henry Smith, leader of West Sussex County Council, has been chatting to Caroline Kingsmill about the benefits.

The Barbados Olympic Association represents the biggest nation so far to sign up to use pre-Games training venues in the South East.

The squad will use K2 Crawley with its athletics arena and 50 metre swimming pool, and other specialist sports facilities.

K2 Crawley is one of 10 West Sussex venues approved as meeting the standards to host pre-Games training camps by the London 2012 organisers.

The venues are part of West Sussex–Ahead of the Game, the countywide initiative ensuring West Sussex residents, businesses and communities get the most out of the 2012 Games.

West Sussex County Council Leader Henry Smith said: “I’m delighted we will be welcoming the Barbados team to Crawley in the run-up to the 2012 Games, and I hope more teams will sign up to use our excellent facilities across the county.

“West Sussex–Ahead of the Game will be working very closely with the Barbados team to ensure their competitors get the right training, support and experience to qualify for the Games and to perform at their best in London.”

In a letter confirming the partnership, President of the Barbados Olympic Association, Steve R. Stoute, wrote: ‘The sports facilities and support services are state of the art.’

Sports science and sports medicine support will be on offer from the University of Chichester, which has played an active role in preparing medal winning Olympic athletes since 1988.  A range of local businesses will provide other support services.

Councillor Lenny Walker, Crawley Borough Council's Cabinet member for Leisure and Cultural Services, added: "This is fantastic news for Crawley and the county. K2 Crawley is the jewel in the crown of the town's leisure facilities and it's extremely gratifying to get this kind of international approval.

"However, this isn't just about a few weeks in 2012. We are looking to build educational, cultural and sporting links with Barbados over the next few years."

The Sussex Tourism Partnership is already looking at how the county can benefit from the Games, and from hosting pre-Games training camps.

John Williams, Chairman of Tourism South East commented: “We are delighted to welcome the Barbados Olympic squad to the Beautiful South.  We congratulate Crawley and West Sussex on their success.  It underlines the superb facilities available to Olympic teams across the South East.  Training camps are a core part of our overall programme to ensure the local visitor economy gains the maximum benefit from the 2012 games.”

Barbados won an Olympic bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.  Hopes are high for a new Olympic star in 2012 in the shape of Ryan Brathwaite, who won the gold medal in the 110 metres Hurdles at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin.