Five More Countries Choose Dublin As Olympic Training Base

Five more countries have chosen Dublin as a training base for the London Olympics in a move which has been welcomed by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar and Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring.

The South Korean Olympic swimming team is training in Dublin in March, while individual swimmers from Poland, Venezuela, Surinam and the Cayman Islands will train here in July.

Minister Varadkar said the National Aquatic Centre (NAC) is proving a major draw for international teams in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics, and the ongoing investment in the facility is clearly worthwhile.

Minister Ring also welcomed the news in his role as Chairman of the London 2012 co-ordinating Committee, which is looking at ways to maximise the benefits to Ireland in terms of sporting, tourism, enterprise and culture.

Minister Ring said it shows the Committee’s efforts to maximise Irish involvement are paying off: "This is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of the Committee and the associated agencies, which have been working hard to ensure that Ireland will benefit directly from the Olympics. I’m delighted with this news. It demonstrates that where we have world-class facilities like the NAC, we are able to able to attract international competitors. I would also like to congratulate the NAC and its staff for all their hard work."

Thirty swimmers and seven coaches from the South Korean swimming squad will train in the NAC from March 11th to 20th. The South Korean team will stay locally in Blanchardstown at the Carlton Hotel.

At the end of July, individual swimmers from a range of countries will use the NAC as their pre-Olympic training base. They include swimmers from the Cayman Islands, Poland, Venezuela and Surinam.

The US Synchronised Swimming Team is holding a training camp from April 10th to 18th in the NAC. They will return again in July and August for further training sessions in the run-up to the Olympics. Dublin will also host an international pre-Olympic water polo tournament for three days in July. Teams from Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Germany and Great Britain have all been confirmed as participants from July 5th to 8th.

Meanwhile, the NAC will host the Irish National Swimming Championships and the Irish Olympic trials next week, from February 29th to March 3rd.

(GK)