This Is Guernsey

GUERNSEY has been put forward as a training venue for the 2012 London Olympics.

Facilities of five of the island’s sports – archery, athletics, badminton, sailing and table tennis – have been included in a brochure that will be sent to all the Olympic countries towards the end of the year.

The countries then decide where they want to prepare for the London Games. ‘It’s really good news,’ said Culture & Leisure minister Peter Sirett. We really have got world-class facilities here. If we can get a couple of small teams here it will be great because we will have someone to get behind [at the Olympics].

‘It’s a win-win situation.’

Visiting teams would spend at least a month in Guernsey preparing in the lead-up to the Olympics.

The island’s sport development manager, Graham Chester, is also delighted by the news.

‘It’s pleasing to know that our facilities are of a high enough standard,’ he said.

‘The brochure will be going to every Olympic association and our little island of Guernsey will be having its name going all over the world.

‘There’s still quite a bit of hard work to do. We’ve got to attract these countries to come here, which in itself will be quite difficult. There’s no guarantee of success just because we’re in the guide.’

Port Soif, where the island’s archery is based, is one of those facilities hoping to be used.

‘I was really quite excited when I heard the news,’ said The Bowmen of Guernsey president, Ian Le Page.

‘It’s a nice little feather in our cap and it certainly raises our profile. It’s a coup and it would be good for our competitors to help them out and pick up what they can.

‘We’ve got some great facilities at Port Soif. I’m sure that we can provide them with some excellent facilities and whatever they want, we can accommodate them.’

The Guernsey Table Tennis Centre at Hougue du Pommier has been accepted, so has the athletics track at Foote’s Lane.

‘I’m not at all surprised Foote’s Lane has been recognised as a potential venue,’ said the Guernsey Island Amateur Athletics Club chairman, Rob Batiste.

‘As athletics stadiums go there are few better in the UK.’

Sailing was also accepted, although the Guernsey Yacht Club’s dinghy-racing coach, Mike Chapple, has his reservations.

The Olympic sailing event is taking place in Weymouth Bay.

‘We can certainly look after them as we’ve got one of the best facilities around,’ said Chapple.

‘But I don’t think anybody would want to use us because we can’t replicate the conditions of Weymouth. Sailing is an unusual sport – it’s not like cycling or table tennis where you can train anywhere.

‘For sailing, you need to sail at the venue to get used to its wind and tidal conditions.’

The other facility to be put forward was the Amalgamated Boys’ Club boxing gym in St Martin’s, but it is understood that it was turned down as the ring is not the regulation size.

Article posted on 5th March, 2008 - 2.29pm