Nepal announced as next nation to train in Kent

Kent County Council has signed the Nepalese Paralympic Committee to train in Kent in the lead up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Nepal joins a growing list of nations already signed up, including Australia, Slovenia, Belarus, Ukraine and Papua New Guinea.

Kent County Council`s Chairman, Paulina Stockell, signed the agreement with Mr Pashupati Parajuli, the General Secretary of the Nepal Paralympic Committee and Mr Ghanshyam Khatiwada, its Secretary, at County Hall, Maidstone. The signing followed a tour of facilities in Kent, visiting facilities in Folkestone, Ashford and Canterbury. Decisions have yet to be made on the facilities that they will use in 2012.

Nepal is expecting to field a small team in the Paralympics, which will represent it in the sports of Athletics, Weightlifting and Shooting. Although the Nepal squad may be small in 2012, this is a significant signing for Kent, due to the strong and historical bond between the County and Nepal through the Gurkhas being based at Maidstone and Canterbury. The signing ceremony was attended by Lt Col Simon Hulme MBE, the Commanding Officer of The 36 Royal Engineers and Major Prembahadur Ale, the Gurkha Major of The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers in Maidstone. Mr Dinesh Khadka, representing the Maidstone Nepalise Community was also present and spoke of his delight for the Nepali community of the County.

Three years ago, Joanna Lumley hand delivered a letter to the President of Nepal from the Leader of Kent County Council, Paul Carter, inviting Nepal to train in Kent for the London 2012 Games.

The Nepal Paralympic squad is expected to arrive in Kent in July 2012 to prepare for the Paralympic Games.

KCC Cabinet Member for Customer and Community Services Mike Hill said: “We are delighted Nepal has chosen to come to Kent and look forward to welcoming all the international athletes who will be staying and training here. Kent County Council and the people of this County will give a very warm welcome to the Nepalise athletes. Nepal and Kent have a strong association, so I am very pleased that we are able to further this through our agreement.”

Please view for further information on Pre-Games Training Camps.