Antigua & Barbuda, Nigeria and Singapore choose Surrey for London 2012 preparations

London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic athletes from Antigua and Barbuda, Nigeria and Singapore will use the University of Surrey’s Surrey Sports Park for training ahead of the games next year.

The Olympic committees for the countries said they were attracted by the excellent facilities as well as the University of Surrey’s close location to London.

Secretary General of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, Tunde Popoola, said of Surrey Sports Park, “It’s an excellent place with all modern facilities, world class coaches that will assist our coaches and athletes, and health and medical support to put them in tip-top form”.

“Our number one priority is to ensure that Team Nigeria have the best possible preparation environment to be able to excel at the Games. That is why we want the best environment for them, and Surrey is ideal.”

Antigua and Barbuda national cricket team ambassador and a cricket legend, Sir Viv Richards, told Podium’s Spotlight magazine that, “Surrey Sports Park is totally ideal for my country. These are amazing facilities and after seeing the welcome we received here, the team has seen what I love about this part of the world”.

The University of Surrey is famous for being multicultural and welcoming. Students at the University of Surrey get the best support and help of any across the UK on their arrival, according to the i-graduate survey of universities .

Surrey Sports Park Chief Executive, Paul Blancard said, “We are both excited and proud that Singapore, Nigeria and Antigua and Barbuda have chosen Surrey Sports Park as the training base for their Olympic athletes prior to London 2012".

Head of the International Study Centre, Simon Cleary, said “It is great news that these countries are hosted at the University as it is an opportunity for international students from those countries to meet and support their sports ambassadors as well as share ideas and broaden their networks”.

Surrey Sports Park is described as one of Europe’s premier sites for elite sport, physical activity, well-being and leisure. Its website says the park's vision among other things is to ensure “Students and staff of the University of Surrey, independent teams and individuals, of all ages have the opportunity to excel in a place that inspires active discovery and development of sporting and creative talent.”

The park boasts of a range of facilities including a Health and Fitness Centre, an Olympic-size swimming pool, racquet sports, sports arenas, a climbing centre, outdoor and changing facilities amongst others.