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Aldershot to host GB Olympic team Aldershot to host GB Olympic team
(about 9 hours later)
Aldershot Army base in Hampshire has been chosen as the official training camp for the British Olympic team ahead of the 2012 Games in London. Aldershot Army base has been chosen as the training camp for the British Olympic team ahead of London 2012.
Aldershot has battled with universities in Bath and Loughborough, in Leics, to be chosen as the base for Team GB. The Hampshire site beat bids from universities at Bath and Loughborough to be chosen as the base for Team GB.
They will be housed at the Army barracks, where traditionally new recruits are put through their paces.
It is thought the site's proximity to London and secure location prevailed over the two university campus sites.It is thought the site's proximity to London and secure location prevailed over the two university campus sites.
Centre of excellence "After much deliberation, our panel has decided Aldershot has the best package to meet Team GB's needs," said British Olympic Association boss Simon Clegg.
Aldershot entered the bidding late, but crucially had the support of the head of the British Olympic Association (BOA), Simon Clegg, who served as a major at Aldershot, and the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt. "In reaching this difficult decision, we have taken into account a wide range of factors that experience has shown are likely to impact on performance and final preparation for the Games.
The Army's Centre of Sporting Excellence has many of the facilities in place for the 750-strong team who will descend on Aldershot. The camp offers an ideal location for track and field athletes to concentrate on the job ahead and ensures they are able to focus on their preparations UK Athletics' Dave Collins "We have been spoilt for choice in this process, and any one of the short-listed sites offered us a better option than we have experienced at any previous Olympic Games."
Its new Olympic-sized 50-metre pool is already home to the British synchronised swimming team. Aldershot entered the bidding late, but crucially had the support of Clegg, who served as a major at Aldershot, and the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt.
A 400-metre running track and two indoor sports arenas mean it is flexible enough to host training for many of the Olympic disciplines. The Army's Centre of Sporting Excellence has many of the facilities in place for the 750-strong team that will descend on Aldershot.
The defeated universities describe themselves as having world-beating sporting facilities. Its new Olympic-sized 50m pool is already home to the British synchronised swimming team, while a 400m running track and two indoor sports arenas mean it is flexible enough to host training for a range of Olympic disciplines.
Together, they say they have received recent investment for sports training worth some £70m. The athletes will stay in the Army barracks, where new recruits are traditionally housed.
Revitalised fortunes Many performance directors from the Olympic sports visited the site over the year-long consultation process. The final decision was taken by a panel made up of Clegg, Clive Woodward, the BOA's director of elite performance, plus director of Olympic operations Mark England and BOA Olympic performance managers Bernie Cotton and Mike Hay.
Ties between the armed forces and the BOA have been strong in the past. I have trained here all my life, and to think that I can train here before the Olympics in 2012 - if selected - is just great Stephanie Twell
Mr Clegg served as a major at Aldershot and 2004 double-Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes was a physical trainer in the adjutant general's corps. Dave Collins, performance director at UK Athletics, said: "The camp offers an ideal location for track and field athletes to concentrate on the job ahead and ensures they are able to focus on their preparations."
The Army first set up a permanent camp in Aldershot in 1854, and the population boomed so much that the town became known as the home of the British army. Stephanie Twell, the world junior number one at 1500m and the European Junior Cross-Country Champion, is based in Aldershot.
It hosted a military tattoo for Queen Victoria in 1894 that continues to this day as an annual army show. "I took up athletics because the Aldershot track was almost in my back garden. I have trained here all my life, and to think that I can train here before the Olympics in 2012 - if selected - is just great."
Aldershot is currently receiving £12bn as part of a huge regeneration project and last month was named one of UK's most popular places to live. Ties between the armed forces and the BOA have been strong over the years. As well as Clegg's connection to Aldershot, double-Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes was a physical trainer in the adjutant general's corps.
The Army first set up a permanent camp in Aldershot in 1854. The numbers based at the camp grew so fast that the town soon became known as the home of the British army.
Aldershot is currently enjoying the benefits of a £12bn regeneration scheme and last month was named one of UK's most popular places to live.