Puerto Rico coming to Kent
Around 40 competitors from Puerto Rico will be coming to Kent, after an agreement was signed between the country's National Olympic Committee and Kent County Council for the athletes to train in Kent ahead of London 2012.
KCC Cabinet member for Customer and Communities Mike Hill said: "We are delighted Puerto Rico has chosen to come to Kent and we look forward to welcoming all the international athletes who will be staying and training here. The work which has taken place over the years will help the County benefit from a boost in tourism, an increase in spending locally as well a real excitement of being on the doorstep of London 2012."
The Puerto Rico Olympic team could include competitors in Basketball, Weightlifting, Judo, Gymnastics, Freestyle Wrestling, Boxing and Athletics.
The sportsmen and women will train at Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury High School and Canterbury Boxing Club.
Kent County Council has worked hard to encourage and welcome top level international sportspeople to the County, as part of the Kent 2012 campaign to maximise the benefits to the County from the Games. The aim is that elite athletes will use local facilities and create a link with communities and residents.
Kent has been recognised as being among the counties with the most nations, excluding London, to sign up to train here. Nations which have already signed up to come to Kent and Medway include:
- Ukraine Judo Squad (Tonbridge School)
- Belarus Judo Squad (Tonbridge School)
- Portugal Gymnastics and Trampolining Squad (Medway)
- Slovenia Gymnastics (Pegasus Gymnastics, Maidstone)
- Australia Athletics (Tonbridge School)
- British Judo Team - Olympic and Paralympic (Dartford Judo Club)
- Senegal Olympic team (Medway)
- Papua New Guinea Paralympic Squad (Sevenoaks)
- Nepal Olympic and Paralympic Squad (University of Kent Canterbury and Canterbury High School (Canterbury)
- Congo Olympic Squad (Medway)
Andrew Balsdon, Director of Sport, Canterbury Christ Church University: "Canterbury Christ Church University is delighted to be hosting the Puerto Rico Olympic Squad and helping with their preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The opportunity to support their sportsmen and women and develop cultural and sport related links is a very exciting prospect".
Paul Eales, Executive Director, Body and Mind Centre Canterbury: "On behalf of Body and Mind and the Canterbury Academy, we are highly delighted the Puerto Rico Olympic Organising Committee has selected our venue for their final preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games."
David Kenward, Club Head Coach: "Canterbury Amateur Boxing Club are delighted to welcome the Puerto Rico Olympic Boxing team to our gym, for pre games training sessions. I am sure the spin-offs will benefit Canterbury Boxing Club, The Prince of Wales Youth Centre and of course the City of Canterbury itself."
