Representatives
from the Chinese Olympic Committee visited Leeds and Sheffield at the end of
last month to tour facilities their leading athletes may use in the run-up to
London 2012 should they choose Yorkshire as a training base.
The visiting party
included Secretary General of the China Athletics Association Mr Zhaocai Du and
National Team Head Coach and Vice President of the China Athletics Association
Mr Shuyoung Feng.
In Leeds the group
were given a tour of the facilities at the John Charles Centre for Sport and
Leeds Metropolitan University, as well as visiting Roundhay Park which could be
used for race walking training.
During their visit
the Chinese were able to meet World Triathlon Champion Alistair Brownlee and UK
Race Walking Champion Jo Jackson who are both based in Leeds.
Apart from the
sporting and sports science facilities, the group were also shown the possible
accommodation their athletes could use and were also guests of honour at a
special civic reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Leeds Councillor Judith
Elliott in Civic Hall.
The visit follows
similar trips to the region by Olympic representatives from Turkey and Slovenia
in April.
Lord Mayor of Leeds
Councillor Judith Elliott said:
“The visit by the Chinese Olympic officials was very positive. We were
delighted to welcome them to our city and their interest reflects the high
quality of the sports training facilities, accommodation and ‘lifestyle’ which
Leeds can provide. We look forward to our team continuing discussions
with them as well as our other recent visitors from Turkey and Slovenia as they
develop their pre- Games preparation plans for London 2012.”
Leeds and Sheffield
have already secured an agreement with Serbia for their athletes to use the
region as their training base ahead of London 2012, while the Dutch swimming
team will be based at the Aquatics Centre at the John Charles Centre for Sport
in Leeds.
Leeds and Sheffield
and City Councils are working in conjunction with Yorkshire Gold, the regional
committee for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, to develop
opportunities for Yorkshire in the lead up to the Games.
Yorkshire has
already seen a financial benefit from international training camps and similar
events held over the last three years, which has generated more than £1million
for the region’s economy.