Sheffield's plans to become a key player in the build up to the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012 were boosted today by the news that the city will host its first ever international paralympic training camp.
The Saudi Arabian wheelchair basketball squad have announced they are to hold a 10 day training camp at the prestigious English Institute of Sport-Sheffield this summer (August 28 to September 7).
It is the first international paralympic training camp to come to Sheffield and will form part of the Saudi Arabian squad's preparations for the Gulf Championships this autumn.
The Saudi squad are expected to play two matches during their stay in Sheffield, against a Great Britain representative side and Sheffield's own Steelers wheelchair basketball team.
The training camp is being co-ordinated by Saudi British Sports Cooperation Programme, in coordination with BAE Systems. Programme Director Peter Waddell reported that over 60 activities are included in this initiative each year but this will be the first visit to Sheffield.
Head of Sport and Director of Olympic and Paralympic Strategy for the City Wayne Coyle, said: "The visit of the Saudi Arabian Paralympic basketball squad this summer offers Sheffield a fantastic opportunity to pull together the infrastructure needed to provide international training camps on a regular basis ahead of the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012.
"The announcement emphasises the strong sporting links Sheffield is making across the world and highlights the EIS-Sheffield as a centre of excellence for sport in this country. Hopefully this training camp will be the first of many that the city will host over the next six years."
Paul Hudson, Head Coach of the Sheffield Steelers wheelchair basketball team and Vice Chairman of the GB Wheelchair Basketball Association, said: "I've been to Saudi Arabia twice now as part of the Saudi-British Sports Cooperation Programme so it will be great to welcome the Saudi players to Sheffield.
"This is the first international Paralympic training camp to be held in the city and will cover everything from coaching, nutrition and psychology to a full social programme for the duration of the athletes' stay in the city. This represents a great opportunity to exchange ideas and training methods and to build towards the Paralympics in 2012."
Notes to editors:
The Sheffield 2012 Steering Group was formed to look at how Sheffield can maximise the benefits with regards to sport, culture, economic, social and environmental objectives from the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.
The group has identified various strands of opportunity associated with the 2012 Games development of sports participation in Sheffield, the staging of major events, the hosting of international training camps, progressing sports business opportunities, athlete development and elite programmes and tourism benefits.
Key players from across South Yorkshire including representatives from the South Yorkshire Local Authorities, Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield International Venues, SportsPulse, Sheffield First for Investment, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry, South Yorkshire Destination Management Partnerships make up the group.
The group feeds into the Nations and Regions Steering Group via regional steering groups including the Yorkshire 2012 Steering Group which includes members from Yorkshire Culture, Sport England, Yorkshire Forward, Yorkshire Tourism and covers Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford, York and Hull.
Released on behalf of the Sheffield 2012 Steering Group by HR Media Ltd. For more information contact Alex Mills at HR Media on 0114 221 0380.