Barking gets Olympic training investment boost

Barking and Dagenham's sports facilities will get a major boost - thanks to the decision by Olympic chiefs to designate four locations in the borough as Games-time 2012 training venues for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.  
 
And the investment announced today by the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), in borough sports venues, could be as much as £2 million.  
 
Barking Abbey School, the new Beacontree Heath Leisure Centre, Goresbrook Leisure Centre and Mayesbrook Park will now benefit from investment to ensure they provide world-class Olympic standard training facilities for the 2012 Games.  
 
Barking Abbey will host basketball training facilities; Goresbrook, Olympic boxing; Mayesbrook Park, athletics and Paralympic athletics and the new Beacontree Heath Leisure Centre (which opens next year - will host water polo training.  
 
The training venues will be used by athletes from more than 200 countries from mid-July 2012 to help them train and make final preparations on the eve of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  
 
Councillor Liam Smith, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council said: "We welcome today's announcement, not just for the investment it brings to our borough, but the long term benefits it will bring to our communities."  
 
He added: "The fact that four centres in our borough have been chosen by Olympic chiefs shows their recognition of the first class sports facilities we have in Barking and Dagenham. The investment that will now come to our sports facilities will improve them even more, not just for 2012, but ensure we have world class facilities for years to come that local residents as well world class sports people can enjoy."  
 
Councillor Bert Collins, Cabinet Member for Culture and Sport added: "Last week the borough was awarded Olympic status and now we have something tangible to show for that title. Hopefully it will be the beginning of a whole host of legacy benefits that the people of the borough will see in the lead-up to London's 2012 games."