News & Events
Stour Centre for 2012
The world’s greatest athletes could be coming to Ashford,
following today’s announcement that the Stour Centre has been
chosen to feature within London’s 2012 Pre-games Training Camp
Guide.
The centre, which has been remodelled to offer prestigious
sporting and recreational facilities, beat off strong competition
to be included in the Guide for National Paralympic Committees
(NCP’s).
The Stour Centre’s impressive facilities will be available to
some of the world’s top athletes as a training ground for
paralympic sports such as five-a-side football, goalball,
paralympic table tennis, volleyball (sitting), boccia and
wheelchair basketball, fencing and rugby.
It was chosen by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic
Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) for its ability to provide a
multi-sport venue, proving that its amenities were capable to host
and accommodate for disability sports.
Cllr Gerry Clarkson, portfolio holder for cultural services
said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Ashford to showcase its
new facilities at the Stour Centre to a global audience and for the
town to get involved with the biggest sporting event to be hosted
in this country.”
Emma Wood, chief executive of Ashford Leisure Trust, which
operates the council-owned Stour Centre, said: “We are delighted
that the Stour Centre has been recognised as a world class facility
to host a pre-games training camp for paralympic sports. We are
looking forward to welcoming world-class athletes to Ashford.”