Kent companies being urged to help subsidise international teams training in our county

Companies in Kent are being urged to 'adopt-a-nation' in an effort to help the County attract more teams to train here in the build-up to the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

It is hoped the scheme will create a database of employers interested in supporting overseas teams wanting to train in Kent.

Thirty-six sites in Kent and Medway have been identified as potential training camps by London 2012 - more than any other county. Representatives from Estonia, Romania, Canada and the United States have already visited Kent and Saudi Arabia’s volleyball players and Slovenian gymnasts have expressed interest.

But, because many teams will find it hard to fully fund their pre-Games training, Kent County Council is trying to enlist business support by setting up an international business and sports partnership.

Chris Hespe, KCC’s Head of Sport, Leisure and Olympics, and Chairman of the Kent Coordinating Group for the 2012 Games, explains a great way for firms to share the excitement of the Olympics and Paralympics in the build-up to the 2012 Games is to be associated with international teams.

“We want to achieve sporting, educational and cultural links between nations that would also lead to economic links. I see this as a huge opportunity for Kent companies. It is firmly believed that firms will be able to forge commercial links on the back of sporting deals. We would like to create a list of companies willing to be approached by us every time a nation is due to come over. There’s no reason why firms could not adopt nations or squads and follow them all the way through to 2012. There would also be photo opportunities for the firms and their staff. They would be contributing to these nations’ visits and by doing so enhancing the international profile and standing of those firms.”

Kent is looking for offers of financial sponsorship or help in kind, for example by providing a mini-bus to take the team around, paying for a team’s hotel accommodation, or funding visits to local attractions to show off what the County has to offer.

Firms interested in this opportunity should contact chris.hespe@kent.gov.uk