Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the home of disabled and community sport and leisure in Aylesbury is celebrating after receiving a seventh Memorandum of Understanding from an International squad. The Slovak Paralympic Committee will be training at the home of Paralympic Sport from 28 May – 3 June 2012 in the run up to the 2012 Paralympic Games.
The Slovak Paralympic Squad will be using Stoke Mandeville Stadium on Guttmann Road to train its 100m, 200m athletes, it’s long jumpers, discus, javelin and shot-putters as well as the support team, coaches and physios.
Seb Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee said, “It is great that Paralympic Squads are planning training camps in advance of London 2012. I am sure that the athletes training at Stoke Mandeville Stadium will receive a very warm welcome and that they will enjoy training and acclimatising at the venue - the birthplace of the Paralympic Games.”
Peter Hamaj, The Sport Manager for the Slovak Paralympic Committee said "We were really impressed by the all of the facilities in the South East but Stoke Mandeville Stadium stood out for us as having of the best facilities for Paralympic athletes on offer. We are sure that our athletes will enjoy training at Stoke Mandeville Stadium next year and this will help prepare them for the London 2012 Paralympic Games"
Sue Saville, Managing Director of Tourism South East and Member of the South East Partnership said: "Tourism South East is delighted to have helped Slovak Paralympic Committee to reach an agreement with Stoke Mandeville Stadium for their training camp requirements for 2012. The South East is a great place to live and train; not only do we have world class training facilities, but we have some of the most beautiful and historic places to visit. Hosting National Olympic and Paralympic Committees, such as Slovakia to train here is a really effective way to show the world just how beautiful the South East of England is".
Ian Seabrook, Stoke Mandeville Stadium’s business development manager says: “We’re thrilled to receive our seventh memorandum of understanding and welcome the Slovakian squad next year in the build up to the Paralympic Games. The committee was impressed with our world class training facilities as well as our accommodation, which is housed within the one site on Guttmann Road. We are looking forward to welcoming the Slovakian squad next year.”