Olympic training camp bid for Chester

12:39pm Wednesday 9th April 2008

THE University of Chester is hoping Olympic athletes will stop off at the campus in the run up to the 2012 games.

As a member of the Chester Training Camp Consortium, the university has submitted a bid to market the best of Chester's sporting facilities to competitors preparing for the London 2012 Olympics.

In particular, the university will offer training facilities, professional sports science support and accommodation for countries competing in archery, basketball and fencing events.

The university's vice-chancellor Professor Tim Wheeler said: "The university has already brought a global community to Chester and we are honoured that the London 2012 Organising Committee has given us the opportunity to welcome some of the world's foremost sportspeople to the city as our contribution to the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Director of Sport Peter Leyland added: "Having access to appropriate training facilities well in advance of 2012 is absolutely crucial for visiting teams and we are delighted that the London 2012 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games has acknowledged the potential which we have identified in Chester."