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Olympic boss tours Surrey Sports Park

21 January 2011

The boss of the British Olympic Association (BOA), Andy Hunt, visited Surrey Sports Park this week on a tour of facilities in Kent and Surrey which will be used as a 2012 training base.

Surrey Sports Park is due to host Antigua and Barbuda prior to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, after signing an agreement with the nation back in October, and hope to secure further agreements in the coming month. 

A member of the Olympics organising committee, Mr Hunt met staff from the Sports Park and councillors before learning about the International Flag Exchange Project, where 54 schools from across Surrey designed and made flags with countries such as India and Uganda. The project was awarded the Inspire mark – the badge of the London 2012 programme.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Hunt said: “We are fast approaching the 500-days-to-go marker until the 2012 Games and this visit has provided me with a great insight into the work that Surrey County Council are already doing to maximise the opportunities that are arising from them.

“There really are some superb facilities on offer in the region. It was fantastic to see presentations of projects across both sport and culture, which provided a fine example of how the Olympic and Paralympic Games is benefiting more than just London and showing its importance to the UK economy.”

Iain Woodley, Interim Managing Director of Surrey Sports Park said, “It was a pleasure to host Andy Hunt and show him the great sporting facilities we have here at Surrey Sports Park. We hope our centre will provide the perfect preparation for Antigua and Barbuda and other teams in the run up to London 2012, whilst also inspire our local to community to get into sport and live healthier lives.”

Cllr Saliagopoulos added: “Andy Hunt’s visit highlights the important role Surrey has to play before, during and after the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Our business community is helping to create the Games, while at the same time benefiting the local economy."