Leeds is to play host to Olympic champions in 2012 as the Dutch Swimming Federation have chosen to use the city as their training base ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.
The team from Holland which includes reigning Olympic Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay Champions Inge Dekker, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Femke Heemskerk and Marleen Veldhuis will be based in Leeds in the weeks leading up to the London 2012 Olympic Games following an agreement between the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation and Leeds City Council.
The team, which is expected to be made up of approximately 25 swimmers competing in London, will use the Aquatics Centre at the John Charles Centre for Sport to complete their final preparations. The team are also expected to visit Leeds in late 2011 or early 2012 for an initial training camp.
The announcement is the second such agreement to be sealed with a nation competing in the London 2012 Olympic Games, following the decision by Serbia to also send its athletes to Leeds and Sheffield which was confirmed in May.
The Dutch team had 19 swimmers take part in the Beijing Olympics last year, and are aiming to have approximately 25 qualify to compete in London. Aside from the swimming squad, other Dutch aquatic athletes may also be coming to Leeds including Olympic 10km Open Water swimming champion Maarten van der Weijden, who overcame leukaemia to triumph in Beijing, and the women’s water polo team who claimed a surprise victory over the USA in the Olympic final to take the gold medal.
Leeds City Council Executive Member for Leisure Councillor John Procter said:
“This is fantastic news that a second country has chosen Leeds as the perfect place to send its athletes in preparation for London 2012. Following on from the agreement with Serbia it is clear that the facilities we have here in Leeds are of the highest standard so it is wonderful to be able attract a team which includes current Olympic champions.
“We hope they have a really enjoyable time in our city and look forward to hopefully having some more countries choose to come to Leeds.”
Team Manager of the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation Aad van Groningen said:
“The Royal Dutch Swimming Federation are very pleased to have been able to agree with Leeds the training programme and facilities for our swimmers. London 2012 is a great opportunity for Dutch swimming to build on our Olympic success from Beijing last year.
“I am confident that the Aquatics Centre and the support Leeds can offer will provide us with the perfect training environment for us to succeed at the London 2012 Olympic Games.”
Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee Sebastian Coe said:
"This is great news for Leeds who I know will give a warm welcome to the Dutch swimming team. Leeds has high quality swimming facilities and this will help the swimmers prepare well for the London 2012 Games. It also provides a great opportunity for Leeds to get involved in our plans."
Kate Auld of Yorkshire Gold, the region’s London 2012 Committee, added:
“The Dutch are a swimming force to be reckoned with; winning a clutch of gold medals at Bejing and smashing world records in 2009. We’re thrilled to have signed them up so far ahead of 2012 and look forward to welcoming more teams and sports to come and enjoy our world-class facilities and warm Yorkshire welcome.”
Contact Name : Peter Smith, Project Manager for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Contact Telephone :
Contact Email : peter.a.smith@leeds.gov.uk