Hartpury College was selected as the venue to launch the Pre-Games Training Camp Guide for the South West region yesterday. The College being one of the 600 high-quality training facilities throughout the UK that features in the London Organising Committee (LOCOG) Pre-Games Training Camp Guide; chosen as a potential base for Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon.

Hartpury boasts some of the finest equestrian facilities in the country which include a purpose built £4.6 million championship indoor arena, opened by Chairman of the London Organising Committee and Paralympic Games, Lord Sebastian Coe, in September 2007; six additional indoor and outdoor arenas; stabling for 230 horses; four cross country courses at pre-novice, FEI 1, 2 and 3 star level and an onsite Equine Veterinary and Therapy Centre. Modern Pentathlon teams will also be supported by outstanding specialist facilities for riding, swimming, running, fencing and shooting. All athletes will also have access to the extensive strength and conditioning facilities, gyms and the Human Performance Laboratory. The College infrastructure can also provide 1000 on-suite bedrooms and multiple restaurant complexes, an important consideration for large competing nations with extensive support teams.

Commenting on the Hartpury’s inclusion in the guide, Malcolm Wharton, Hartpury College Principal said:

“We are naturally delighted to be included in the Training Camp Guide; Hartpury has world-class facilities for participating teams in the 2012 games, particularly in equestrian and modern pentathlon. We have been involved in running World Championships, including the FEI World Para Dressage Championships, since 1994 and will be delighted to add our involvement in the 2012 Games to our portfolio.”

In a Press Release issued by LOCOG yesterday, the following comments were made:

Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee, commented: “We said that we wanted the London Games to be for athletes, and the facilities listed in this Guide will really help overseas athletes prepare well. It also provides a great opportunity for towns throughout the UK to get involved in our plans. The process we have been through shows a great spread of high quality facilities throughout the UK that can be used by elite level athletes. The new website will continue to be an asset to keep an up-to-date log of the elite facilities we have across the UK.”

Tessa Jowell, Olympics Minister, said: “The strength and diversity of our sporting infrastructure is demonstrated by so many high quality facilities having met the strict criteria to be included in this Guide. This is a real opportunity for communities across the UK to capitalise on the benefits that hosting 2012 offers. There are no guarantees of success just by making it into the Guide. There will be fierce competition to host foreign teams and individuals, and now it is for every nation and region, every venue, to sell itself internationally.”

Hartpury will now begin to market their facilities directly to the National Olympic Committees and National Paralympic Committees, hoping to attract key competing nations onto campus to utilise their world-class facilities.