London 2012 Paralympic Pre-Games Training Camp Guide

“The facilities listed in this Guide will really help overseas athletes and teams prepare well for London 2012."

The London 2012 Organizing Committee (LOCOG) announced the list of successful facilities today and will now publish its Guide of both Olympic and Paralympic facilities which are capable of hosting teams wanting to prepare for the London 2012 Games in the summer.

The Guide contains a selection of high quality, sporting facilities that meet the technical criteria of national and international sports bodies and also accessibility and support service requirements to be a suitable venue to host Paralympic teams.

The review process has been conducted by LOCOG’s Sport Department with input from the National Governing Bodies of Sport and a Steering Group with representatives from LOCOG, the British Paralympic Association (BPA) and with input from the Sports Councils for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Guidance has also been provided by local London 2012 contacts and regional experts specializing in sport for persons with a disability. It has been a comprehensive analysis of high quality elite Paralympic sporting facilities in the UK.

The facilities have been assessed with a strong focus on standards of accessibility and accommodation, plus the commitment of the facilities to co-operate with National Paralympic Committees (NPCs). Those facilities selected are either capable of hosting a wide variety of sports or have been chosen as a Centre of Excellence with a specialism in hosting a specific spor.

LOCOG has a training camp financial award scheme which can offer up to £25,000, subject to certain criteria, to help attract National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) to base themselves in the UK.

Extensive details of the facilities will appear on a dedicated website showcasing the quality and variety of options throughout the UK which will help NPCs and NOCs decide where to train. The national tourism agency, Visit Britain, is developing this new website in partnership with LOCOG and will bring its experience of marketing destinations and tourism products to an international audience.

Sebastian Coe, Chairperson of LOCOG, said: “The facilities listed in this Guide will really help overseas athletes and teams prepare well for London 2012. The assessment process we have conducted shows that there is a good spread of high quality sporting facilities for athletes across the board. I hope that as many teams and athletes as possible take advantage of these facilities. Our vision is to use the Games to inspire change and change attitudes towards people with a disability. We look forward to welcoming Paralympic athletes to the UK in 2012”

The Guide will be launched at the Beijing 2008 Games after which time it will be available online. For further information, please visit the website at www.london2012.com.