Russian divers taking the plunge in Leeds on the road to Olympic glory
Published on: 19th October 2011
Russia’s senior international divers are in Leeds this week after being announced as the latest country to sign an agreement to train in the city ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Eight members of the senior squad and their support staff are in Leeds this week to familiarise themselves with the city and the Aquatics Centre at the John Charles Centre for Sport, which will be their UK training base in the run-up to the Games in London next summer.
The Russia squad finished second behind China overall in the diving section of the recent FINA World Aquatics Championships, and both of their double medal winners from that event Evgeny Kuznetsov (silver and bronze) and Ilya Zakharov (two bronze) will be in Leeds this week.
As part of the agreement signed between the Russian Diving Federation and Leeds City Council, the squad will return to Leeds in February before the London 2012 diving test event, and will then hold a final pre-Games training camp in July.
During their visit to Leeds this week, the squad will get to meet local young people as pupils from the Leeds West Academy, Cockburn High School and pupils studying Russian at Lawnswood High School will watch them train.
The familiarisation camp follows on from a similar visit enjoyed by the Netherlands swimming squad last month and is another major Olympic announcement for Leeds following on from the confirmation in August by the Chinese Olympic Committee that 12 Chinese Olympic sports teams will use the city as their European pre-Games training base.
Secretary General of the Russian Diving Federation Anatoly Teplyakov said:
“We are very pleased to have signed this agreement to come to Leeds to prepare for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The training facilities are ideal and we have been given a very warm welcome on our previous visits so we are very grateful to the people of Leeds for offering us this wonderful opportunity.”
Leeds City Council executive member for leisure Councillor Adam Ogilvie said:
“This is more fantastic news for Leeds to be able attract more world-class athletes to come to our city as they prepare for London 2012. It says great things about the reputation Leeds has not only as a city but also for the quality of its facilities that these major nations are choosing to base themselves here. We hope they have an enjoyable week getting to know the city.”
Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee Seb Coe said:
"We have always promised that these would be Britain’s Games, so it's great news that the Russian diving team has decided to send their squad to train in Yorkshire in the lead up to Olympic competition next summer.
“The aim of London 2012's Pre-Games Training Camp programme is to allow athletes to compete at their very best through acclimatisation and training. I know the Russian team will enjoy excellent facilities at the Aquatics Centre at the John Charles Centre for Sport, and look forward to their presence inspiring young athletes interested in taking up the sport after the Games.”
In addition to the Russian divers, the Dutch swimmers and the different Chinese sports, Leeds will also be hosting athletes from the USA, Serbia and Canada ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, while discussions are continuing with a number of other countries.
Chair of Yorkshire Gold, the Olympics arm of Welcome to Yorkshire, Gary Verity said:
“This announcement cements Leeds’ international reputation as a proud sporting city. Along with the Chinese squad and the Dutch swimming team, this is another fantastic opportunity for us to welcome international athletes to the region and is testament to Yorkshire fast becoming the training destination of choice for the world’s top athletes."
For more information on Leeds and its work towards the London 2012 Olympic Games, visit www.leedsgold.co.uk
