SOUTHAMPTON Airport could play a high-flying role in the London Olympics in 2012.

As already reported in the Daily Echo, five prestigious sporting locations in the Southampton and Eastleigh areas are being championed as possible training camps as athletes gear up for the greatest sporting spectacle on earth.It is hoped that the airport will play a key role as the world`s top athletes jet in to prepare for their quest for Olympic glory.

With its motorway links the airport is well placed to take sportsmen and women to the proposed training camps at the Rose Bowl, West End, Hamble Community College, the Southampton University playing fields in Wide Lane and other campus facilities as well as The Quays swimming and diving complex.

Airport director of communications Jan Halliday said that BAA was already looking at ways in which each of its airports could be involved in the Olympics. She was speaking at a meeting of the airport`s consultative committee at which former Eastleigh mayor Councillor Godfrey Olson asked if the airport would be involved in the Olympics.

Mrs Halliday said: "The airport will be pushing to have a role. "We have very easy access to London and the training camps in the area." She said compared with the London airports it was also easier to get charter planes into Eastleigh. This would be a big advantage in flying the Olympians into the area.

The International Olympic Committee must provide the pre-Games training camp guide by 2008.

Bids are currently being considered and a shortlist drawn up. Selections will be made by January 2008 and an official guide of the venues distributed to the National Olympic Committees and Paralympics Federations in August 2008.

Source
By Duncan Eaton
dailyecho

See Southampton2012