Grenada Olympic Team Signs Up for Pre-Olympic Games Training in Horsham
The Grenada Olympic Association has confirmed its plans to use Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre near Horsham as its pre-Games training camp in the two to three weeks leading up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Pavilions In the Park, Horsham, may also be used as a training base for the team swimmers.
The Memorandum of Understanding between Grenada Olympic Committee, Horsham District Council and West Sussex County Council was signed recently by Veda Bruno Victor (General Secretary of the Grenada NOC) in the presence of Deborah Urquhart, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy. The Memorandum confirms that the Grenada team members will be based in Horsham for intensive training camps in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. A multilateral collaboration and exchange through sport, education, sports science, business and cultural links will also be encouraged between Grenada and West Sussex in the spirit of Olympic friendship.
Cllr Brian Donnelly, Chairman of Horsham District Council, said, “This is great news for Horsham and is a credit to the excellent leisure facilities that are already on offer to Horsham District residents of all sporting standards, from the occasional leisure user to Olympic-standard athletes. With the Barbados Olympic Association already confirmed as using the K2 Crawley Leisure Centre as its pre-Games training camp and talks taking place with other Caribbean nations we can potentially look forward to perhaps 70 – 80 Olympic athletes coming to West Sussex to take advantage of our superb facilities.”
Natalie Brahma-Pearl, Director of Community Services at Horsham District Council added: “Plans are already underway to develop a programme of themed Olympic activities in the Horsham District in the run-up to the London 2012 Games. We are now working closely with local business partners to provide the best training facilities and support possible to ensure that these athletes have a successful, smooth and enjoyable stay in the Horsham District prior to their transfer to the Olympic Village.”
West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy Deborah Urquhart said: “Thanks must go to the West Sussex Ahead-of-the-Game team who have worked so successfully to generate these contacts, and to showcase the benefits of using West Sussex as a high quality, supportive and convenient base for athletes’ training prior to London 2012.”