Trinidad and Tobago's London 2012 Olympic team pre-Games training camp will be in Cardiff
Trinidad and Tobago's London 2012 Olympic team pre-Games training camp will be in Cardiff it was announced today. [1 December 2010]
The decision has been made by the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) following extensive discussions and consultations which included two visits to Wales by the National Olympic Committee.
A Memorandum of Understanding between Welsh Ministers and the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee has been signed to confirm the decision. TTOC President Michael Romany signed on behalf of his organisation.
Wales has many world class facilities in close proximity that impressed the TTOC including outdoor and indoor athletics tracks. TTOC athletes will be able to access cutting edge sports science and medicine services and will be very well looked after by experienced high performance staff who have worked for many years with Olympic teams.
It was also important for TTOC that the team has the full support of the Welsh Assembly Government and Cardiff City Council in providing the most effective pre Games environment for TTOC athletes and support staff who are targeting a record medal haul at the 2012 London Games.
First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “I’m delighted that the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee has chosen Wales as their location for pre-Games training ahead of London 2012. The decision reflects the hard work put in by the Welsh Assembly Government and its partners over the past few months and shows that Wales has the kind of facilities and infrastructure that Olympic teams are looking for. I’m sure they will receive a warm Welsh welcome during their stay.”
Michael Romany, the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee said: “After considering many options for our training location in the UK, we are very pleased with our choice of Cardiff. We have been impressed by the range of world class facilities we will be using and by the enthusiastic support of our friends in Wales in assisting our final athlete preparations for London 2012.”
Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones said: “I am pleased to welcome the Trinidad and Tobago team to Wales. I hope the presence of world class athletes in Wales will inspire more young people to take up sport. We will be looking to work with the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee over the next two years to maximise benefits for both nations in a sporting, educational and cultural context. ”
Seb Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee said "It’s great to hear that National Olympic Committees from around the world are developing strong relationships with the UK to aid their training in advance of London 2012. And it’s fantastic to know that with less than two years to go plans are being developed to maximise benefits for both nations across sporting, educational and cultural agendas. I wish Trinidad and Tobago and their Welsh colleagues all the very best in their preparations for London 2012.”
Cardiff Council’s Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells said: “We are delighted that the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee has selected Cardiff as its pre-Games training camp location.
This is a result of the first-class sporting facilities, stadia and infrastructure we have in place here.
Pre-Games training camps will provide Cardiff with cultural, economic and participatory opportunities whilst assisting with our vision in establishing the city as a world class sporting venue.”