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2012 Olympic Gymnasts to Train at Durham Leisure centre
Friday 20th June 2008
Durham City will be a training ground for Olympic gymnasts preparing for the 2012 London Games. The news follows an assessment by members of the 2012 organising committee earlier this year. Now staff are waiting excitedly for the announcement on which country will base it’s gymnasts at the nationally acclaimed site.
Following their inspection of the centre this is the 2012 committee verdict. 'Deerness is a high performance centre for gymnastics with state of the art equipment including a walk on trampoline, a 30m tumble track and 2 full gymnastic floor areas. The centre also boasts a weight training area, a sauna and free parking.'
For Centre Manager Mark Harley it's cause for celebration all round,'Deerness hosts the best sports acrobatic club in the British Isles. The facilities have increased the performance of all gymnasts who train in this area.Both Usher Moor and Durham district as a whole will benefit from the added publicity and kudos which will follow which ever country bases its 2012 training here. I envisage the local community being very excited at the prospect of being involved in some way with the preparation for the London Games. It is a very exciting time for all at Deerness and beyond.'
Deerness Valley Gymnastics Club is also celebrating another great success this week. 5 of the club's teams have qualified for the World Age Group Championships in which will be held in Glasgow in October.