2012 Olympics

Loughborough still to play a part in Team GB 2012

Loughborough University will continue to play an important role in the development and preparation
of Britain’s athletes in 2012 despite the British Olympic Association’s (BOA) recent announcement
the official Team GB holding camp will be held at Aldershot.

The University, which boasts the highest concentration of world class sporting facilities in Europe,
will still work closely with the BOA and Britain’s elite athletes to give Team GB its best
opportunity for success in 2012.

Many of Britain’s 2012 contenders will continue to use Loughborough’s facilities during the fouryear
run-up to the Games and it is also expected some sports will choose to stay in Loughborough
for their final Olympic preparations.

Loughborough is already working closely with Sir Clive Woodward and his Elite Performance
Programme to provide sports science support and research to identified elite athletes, and it
hopes to work closely with the BOA to offer increased sports science and sports innovations
services in the run-up to the Games.

The University’s reputation within sport is such that its campus is home to five national sports
performance centres and 11 national governing bodies for sport, while a wide range of sports
choose Loughborough to host training camps for their elite athletes. Loughborough has provided a
base for the preparation of more than 100 British Olympians over the past 30 years.

Loughborough University Director of Sport Chris Earle is surprised at the BOA’s decision for its
holding camp but believes Loughborough has a massive role to play in preparing Britain’s athletes
for the Games.

“Loughborough University still has a huge part to play in supporting Britain’s athletes in the run-up
to the London Olympics,” he said. “It is important to remember the most important preparation
work for athletes and their support staff takes place in the years before the Olympic Games. It is
our job to ensure that our Team GB athletes have the best possible environment and support for
the four crucial years leading up to the Games.

“Loughborough is proud of its unique combination of world class facilities, sports science
expertise, quality coaches and technical support and we will continue to work closely with the
BOA, UK Sport and the individual sports governing bodies to ensure Britain’s athletes have the
best chance of success in 2012 and beyond.”Back to News