The University of Leeds, under its brand MeetinLeeds is proud to announce that it will be hosting training camps for two international London 2012 teams

China
The Chinese Olympic Committee have announced that the sporting superpower will base most of its 300 athletes – from at least 11 sports – at the University of Leeds next July for its pre-Games training ahead of the London 2012 Games.

The athletes coming to Leeds will be representing their country pending qualification in mountain biking, fencing, modern pentathlon, athletics, swimming, women’s water polo, women’s handball, women’s hockey, table tennis, boxing and taekwondo. Discussions are also ongoing regarding a number of other Olympic sports.

China are a world superpower at Olympic level, having topped the medal table in their home Olympics in Beijing in 2008, claiming 51 golds and a total of 100 medals overall.

Richard Handscombe, Head of Sales & Marketing for events at the University of Leeds comments: “This is a fantastic honour for the University and for the region. We have very high quality facilities and I am very pleased that the Chinese recognised that they would provide a superb training camp for their top athletes. We can’t wait to welcome them here.”

Director for National Team Management in the Chinese Olympic Committee Mr Yang said: “Officials from the Chinese Olympic Committee have visited a range of sports facilities in Leeds and Yorkshire. We are confident that Leeds and Yorkshire will make a very good pre-Olympic training camp base for our sports teams and that our athletes will be very happy with the arrangements we are making in Leeds for our preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games.”

*Pic is the University of Leeds’ Vice Chancellor Michael Arthur with Director for National Team Management in the Chinese Olympic Committee, Mr Yang

Canada
One of the fastest and most brutal Paralympic sports has chosen The University of Leeds for its training camps prior to the Paralympics. The Beijing bronze medal winning Canadian wheelchair rugby team will be at the University for three pre-games camps in the run-up to London 2012.

Naturally, the superb indoor sports facilities and catering at the University play a big part in such a decision, but crucially, our hotel-style residence, Storm Jameson Court came to the fore, having 23 accessible bedrooms amongst its total of 460.
Richard Handscombe, Head of Sales & Marketing for events at the University of Leeds comments: “I had never seen this sport played prior to meeting the Canadians on their site visit, but now appreciate the sheer excitement of wheelchair rugby. We are immensely proud to have been chosen as their training base.”

Andy Van Neutegem, performance director for Canadian Wheelchair Rugby, said: “After careful evaluation, the University of Leeds was chosen as it best met the training needs of our team and, in particular, the flexibility and accessibility of the excellent facilities and accommodation. Their sport and supporting facilities are sports specific and are certainly to international standards.”

We are delighted that Team Canada have subsequently decided that Leeds is indeed to be their training venue, and look forward to the first of three training camps this summer.

*Pic shows Wheelchair Rugby in action

*More on the sport of wheelchair rugby can be found on the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation website: http://www.iwrf.com/.

ENDS