Nigeria set to train in Surrey ahead of London 2012

Tuesday 5 April 2011

Secretary General of the NOC, Tunde Popoola, said, “It’s an excellent place with all modern facilities, world class coaches that will assist our coaches and athletes, and health and medical support to put them in tip-top form.”

“Our number one priority is to ensure that Team Nigeria have the best possible preparation environment to be able to excel at the Games. That is why we want the best environment for them, and Surrey is ideal.”

Denise Saliagopolous, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Community Services, the 2012 Games and Tourism, said: “It’s fantastic news that another Olympic team is about to sign up to be based in Surrey. The county council has been working incredibly hard behind the scenes to sell Surrey as the best place for Olympic teams to base themselves in the run-up to and during the 2012 Games. Outstanding facilities such as Surrey Sports Park and Guildford Spectrum make it an attractive place to stay. Each Olympic and Paralympic organising committee has £25,000 to spend on their training for the Games which will benefit the local economy if they choose Surrey.”

Paul Blanchard, Surrey Sports Park Chief Executive, said, “We are delighted to have agreed to host Nigeria here in Surrey and at Surrey Sports Park. We hope the Nigerian athletes will benefit from our world class sporting facilities and accommodation in preparing for London 2012.”

Rob Price, Guildford Spectrum Marketing Manager, said, “We welcome all the Nigerian athletes, their coaching staff and supporters to Surrey and Guildford. The Nigerian team include world class athletes who were medal winners in Beijing and it is testament to the world class facilities we have here in Guildford and Surrey that they chose our venues.”

John Williams, Chairman of Tourism South East, said, “We are both pleased and proud that Surrey has been chosen to host the Nigerian Olympic team. Pre-Games Training Camps are truly a partnership affair, and as a region we are able to provide a highly professional offer to National Olympic and Paralympic Committees with high quality venues and excellent sporting facilities. This isn’t just about a few weeks but creating a long lasting legacy from the Games for Surrey and the South East.”

Notes to Editors:

About Surrey Sports Park
Surrey Sports Park houses some of the most up to date sports facilities in the country, as well as Surrey’s first 50 metre pool, there will be glass backed squash courts with 2 show courts for 180 spectators, eight outdoor floodlit tennis courts, two new floodlit artificial grass pitches including one 3rd generation, a 120 station health and fitness centre and a 12m high Climbing Centre with a unique bouldering facility. Its 250 seat Starbucks Coffee House is the first Starbucks in Europe to be housed within a multi-sports facility.

Not only does the Surrey Sports Park facilitate able bodied sporting excellence, it also provides first rate facilities and access for disabled athletes and selection as an official training venue for the Paralympic Games in 2012 has emphasised its top rate provision for disability sport. For more information visit www.surreysportspark.co.uk

Guildford Spectrum
Guildford Spectrum is recognised as the largest and most exciting sports and leisure complex in the UK. The full range of facilities on site are: 400 metre (8 lane, 10 lane 100m) athletics track and field stadium, 25 metre Competition Swimming Pool, Teaching Pool, Diving Pool, Leisure Pool, Olympic size ice rink, 32 lane tenpin bowling centre, health suite, spa, beauty therapy, Spinning studio, 2 court sports hall, 3 squash courts, aerobics studio, branded catering outlets, conference & hospitality facilities, crèche, and free parking for 1000 cars.
Spectrum has hosted numerous World, European and National sporting events and championships including basketball, gymnastics, trampolining and athletics.
Spectrum has achieved the highest score nationally (94%) in Sport England’s QUEST assessment of management and operational effectiveness. www.guildfordspectrum.co.uk

About The University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is one of the UK’s leading professional, scientific and technological universities with a world class research profile and a reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Ground-breaking research at the University is bringing direct benefit to all spheres of life – helping industry to maintain its competitive edge and creating improvements in the areas of health, medicine, space science, the environment, communications, defence and social policy. Programmes in science and technology have gained widespread recognition and it also boasts flourishing programmes in dance and music, social sciences, management and languages and law. In addition to the campus on 150 hectares just outside Guildford, Surrey, the University also owns and runs the Surrey Research Park, which provides facilities for 140 companies employing 2,700 staff.

The Sunday Times names Surrey as ‘The University for Jobs' which underlines the university’s growing reputation for providing high quality, relevant degrees.

Surrey is a member of the 1994 Group of 19 leading research-intensive universities.  The Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in university research and teaching.  Each member undertakes diverse and high-quality research, while ensuring excellent levels of teaching and student experience.

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Media Enquiries

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