ParalympicsGB 2012 Simulation Camp hailed a major success
The ParalympicsGB Simulation Camp at the University of Bath has been heralded a fantastic success by athletes and sports alike. Over 100 athletes from 10 sports went through the Camp which was designed to replicate the environment that awaits them in London next year if they are selected.
Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of the British Paralympic Association (BPA) & Team West of England Co-Chair said:
"We are delighted by the success of the Camp. The sense of teamwork and shared purpose was palpable. The camp not only helped individual athletes and sports to focus on their specific preparation, it started the all important process of building one, cohesive unit which will become the ParalympicsGB team next year."
Penny Briscoe, the BPA’s Director of Performance described the camp as ‘a fantastic stepping stone into the final year of preparation’ and praised the attitude of staff and athletes alike in embracing the opportunities on offer.
She said:
"We have encouraged athletes and staff to focus on all aspects of their preparation and recovery and I’ve been really struck by their determination to leave no stone unturned to ensure they are best prepared for what awaits them in a year’s time."
Paul Regan, Team Leader for Wheelchair Tennis, said:
"As a team we found the camp really useful because in wheelchair tennis we don’t regularly spend time in multi-sport environments and it can be very different to what players are used to on the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour.
"By giving the players and support staff the experience of a camp like this, they will be better prepared for the Games-time environment at London 2012. It was also a great training block for us and we are confident of a successful year ahead for British wheelchair tennis."
The camp also got a glowing endorsement from Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt. After touring the camp and seeing many sports hard at work training, he described it as ‘amazing, inspiring and truly excellent.’
Earlier, he had outlined his vision for the Games when he said:
"I believe that next year will be the year that the Paralympics finally comes of age, when it ceases to be the junior partner of the Olympic movement."
He went on to describe the ParalympicsGB team’s track record on coming second on the medal table at previous three summer Games as ‘a truly remarkable example of British success’.
The camp was funded by the National Lottery through UK Sport with supplementary support offered by several 2012 Partners, including Sainsbury’s who supplied fruit and snacks, Coca-Cola who provided beverages, Cadbury who provided treats. EDF and the BPA once again worked in partnership to make the camp as sustainable as possible and EDF, Cadbury and Deloitte provided volunteers to help the camp run smoothly.
