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Brunel University to welcome Korean Olympic team for London 2012 training

Sanot Domingo: LAE International

Brunel University, one of the UK’s best universities for sport, will be the official London 2012 Olympic training camp for the Korean Olympic team.

Officials from the University and the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) will sign an agreement this Wednesday [6 April] at the London Marriott County Hall, which will put Brunel’s world-class sports facilities at the disposal of the Korean athletes.

The agreement will be signed by Korean Olympic Committee President Mr Park Yong-sung and Brunel University Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Jenks, in the presence of London 2012 Board Member Sir Craig Reedie.

Mr Park Yong-sung said: "I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Brunel University in signing this Memorandum of Understanding.  With this agreement, the KOC looks forward to our collaboration, and to gaining the best results in the 2012 London Olympics.”

Neil Young, Head of Brunel Programmes for the London 2012 Games, said: "We are delighted to be able to offer the Korean athletes access to our facilities, and hope that the hard work and dedication of the athletes that train here at Brunel will translate into success in the medal table. The sporting facilities at Brunel University, along with the London Borough of Hillingdon’s 50m pool, are among the best in London and this was recognised when we were included in the official London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide.”

Seb Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee said: "I am sure that Brunel University will provide excellent training facilities for the Korean Olympic Committee athletes and hope that this agreement leads to the development of a strong relationship via which both parties benefit across sporting and educational agendas. I wish the Korean National Olympic Team and Brunel University students all the very best in their preparations for London 2012.” 

Brunel offers some of the best university sports and athletics facilities in the UK, including an Indoor Athletics Centre for track and field athletics, an outdoor six-lane 400m track, sports halls for badminton and handball, and exercise studios for fitness and martial arts. Altogether, these facilities have helped make the University a year-round base for top athletes, with members of the GB and Jamaican athletics teams training on campus, including triple world recorder holder Usain Bolt.

Professor Ian Campbell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Brunel University, said he was delighted that the Korean Olympic athletes planned to make use of top class facilities not only at Brunel but also within the London Borough of Hillingdon, including a world-class 50m swimming pool at the new £31 million Hillingdon Sports Centre and Leisure Complex in Uxbridge.

The Korean athletes and their coaching team will arrive at Brunel University on 20 July 2012 and will remain until the Games end on 12 August.

For more information on sport at Brunel, visit the Brunel 2012 website: www.brunel.ac.uk/2012

- Ends -

Journalists and photographers are welcome to attend the signing onWednesday 6 April 2011, 7-10pm (main event 7.15-7.45pm followed by drinks and canapés). In addition there will be opportunity to interview KOC President Mr Park Yong-sung and a representative from Brunel University.

Press are requested to contact the press office to confirm attendance in advance.

The event will be held at the King George V Room, London Marriott County Hall, Westminster Bridge - next to the venue for the Sport Accord summit.

For more information or to book attendance and an interview contact:

Owen Morris
owen@communicationsmanagement.co.uk

Tel: 01727 733887
Mob: 07557 163748

Notes to editors

The Korean teams will be training at Brunel University in the following sports:

  • Badminton
  • Gymnastics
  • Handball
  • Hockey
  • Judo
  • Swimming
  • Table tennis
  • Taekwondo
  • Weightlifting
  • Wrestling

Other sports may be added as Olympic qualifications are confirmed.

At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing the Korean team finished 7th overall in the medal table, winning 13 gold, 10 silver, and 8 bronze medals.

Also at the 2008 Beijing Games, 17 graduates of Brunel University competed for Team GB with four winning medals – Heather Fell in Modern Pentathlon, and Tom Stallard, Matt Wells and Vicky Hansford in Rowing.

Brunel offers extensive indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including:

  • Indoor Athletics Centre, including a 132m six-lane sprints and hurdles straight, two long and triple jump pits, pole vault and high jump beds, throws nets and a performance strength and conditioning area
  • Two sports halls for badminton and handball
  • An exercise studio for fitness and martial arts
  • A Sports Park with an international-standard 400m six-lane track, full field event facilities and synthetic football and hockey pitches
  • A state-of-the-art gym
  • A 50m pool is also located nearby within the London Borough of Hillingdon