US Paralympic Team to train at London Fields Lido
London Fields Lido will be the training venue for the US Paralympic swimming team, it has been announced.
The Council and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) signed the prestigious contract on 26 May.
It means that for a few hours a day, the elite squad will train in London's largest outdoor heated pool in the run up to and during the 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.
Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, Cllr Jonathan McShane, said: "This is great news for Hackney and testament to the quality of the Lido and its facilities. The Council is working to ensure that we secure as many benefits for Hackney as possible from London 2012.
Now, local people can look forward to seeing Paralympic swimmers train and children of all abilities will receive coaching from top international athletes."
Julie O'Neill, Team Leader of Sport Performance USOC, added: "We are thrilled to have the use of a venue of this calibre in the lead up to the Games."
The Council has been in discussions with the USOC and secured a number of benefits for the community from the deal including coaching expertise for local children of all abilities; and opportunities to meet athletes. Olympic and Paralympic memorabilia will be donated to form part of Hackney's 2012 archive.
More detailed information about the community benefits and the use of Hackney's GLL-run leisure centres will be available in the run up to the 2012 Games.
More information
For info about London Fields Lido, please visit the London Fields Lido page.
Page updated: 7 Jun 2011