| Sheffield’s magnificent seven go for gold in Paralympic training guide |
 Seven of Sheffield’s top sporting venues have been put forward as possible Paralympic training camps for the London 2012 Games.
Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, the English Institute of Sport – Sheffield (EISS), Concord Sports Centre, Hillsborough Leisure Centre, iceSheffield, and Don Valley Stadium, which are all managed by Sheffield International Venues (SIV), plus Graves Tennis and Leisure Centre, have been included in the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) Guide. The publication will provide an insight into where international Paralympic teams can prepare for the London Games. It will be published in the summer and launched at the Beijing Games. A total of 11 high quality sporting venues from across Yorkshire and 180 nationally will appear in the Guide. The venues meet the technical criteria of national and international sports bodies and accessibility and support service requirements for Paralympic teams. Sheffield’s facilities cover 12 of the 20 Paralympic sports. All six of the SIV facilities will also appear in the Guide for Olympic sports, which was announced in March this year. They appear alongside 14 other South Yorkshire venues including All Saints Specialist Sports College, Collegiate Campus, Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre, Graham Solley Sports Development Centre, Keepmoat Stadium, Ladybower Reservoir, Mount St Mary's College, Rother Valley Country Park, Shaw Lane Community Sports Association, Sheffield United’s Academy, Sheffield Wednesday’s training ground, St Leger Horse Park, The Doncaster Dome, The Metrodome Leisure Complex and the SIV-managed Woodbourne Road Athletics Stadium. Sheffield has a proud association with disability sport, which is highlighted by the success of city swimmer James Crisp who has qualified for the Beijing Paralympics Games in the 400m freestyle and 100m backstroke. A team of eight players from the Sheffield Steelers wheelchair basketball club, including Terry Bywater, Jon Hall, Jon Pollock, Kevin Hayes, Jill Fox and Jo Harper, plus reserves Dan Highcock and Ian Sagar, are also Beijing-bound as part of the men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams.
The city has recently staged the European wheelchair basketball qualifiers and has played host to three national and international disability sports events (DSE) every year since 1998.Steve Brailey, Chief Executive of Sheffield International Venues, said: “We are delighted to have such a strong representation in the Paralympic guide. It is a huge achievement that of the 11 Yorkshire venues included in the guide seven are based in Sheffield and six of these are managed by Sheffield International Venues. “Through usage of our cluster of world class sports venues, which are the envy of many other cities in the UK, SIV is committed to increasing participation, developing individual potential, maximising economic impact for Sheffield and improving the city’s profile and being part of this guide will support these aims.” Cllr Sylvia Dunkley, Cabinet member for Streetscene, Culture and Leisure for Sheffield City Council, said: “I welcome the inclusion of these seven venues in the Guide and believe it is really important that the city goes for gold in attracting athletes to train for the Paralympics in Sheffield. We should use this as a spring board not just for the economic benefits this can bring to Sheffield but to increase participation in sports and sporting facilities in the city. The key now is to showcase what Sheffield has to offer visiting teams.” Sheffield Steelers player Jo Harper, from Dore, in Sheffield, who is part of the GB women’s team for the Beijing Games, said: “It is wonderful to see so many venues from Yorkshire included in the training camp guide. It represents a real commitment from the region to Paralympic sports and opens up a wealth of opportunities for cities such as Sheffield to take advantage of ahead of the London Games.” Beijing-bound wheelchair basketball player Peter Finbow, from Dewsbury, who plays for the Oldham Owls, said: “It is fantastic news that so many Yorkshire venues have made it in to the LOCOG guide. The announcement highlights the range of high quality, elite sporting facilities that we have in the region that can cater for international Paralympic squads and it will be great to see teams making use of the facilities in the build up to 2012.” Martin Havenhand, executive chair of the Yorkshire Committee for the 2012 Games said: “I’m delighted that once again the Yorkshire and Humber region’s sports facilities have been selected to appear in the London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camps Guide, giving us the opportunity to showcase them to Paralympic teams across the world. “Sport continues to be one of our region’s great strengths and is central to the Yorkshire Gold strategy. Attracting teams to the region is not only important for sport, but will have real benefits for business, tourism, our communities and culture. “The London 2012 Games present a wonderful opportunity to secure a lasting legacy for the region.” Ahead of London 2012, the EISS has already become the training HQ for the GB men’s and women’s volleyball squad, home to the Amateur Boxing Association of England and has already hosted various international training camps including the Saudi Arabia wheelchair team. |
