BRITISH athletes will use Aldershot as their training base for the 2012 Olympics it was announced on Tuesday. The British Olympic Association (BOA), headed by Farnham man and BOA chief executive Simon Clegg, chose Aldershot because of the Army's first- class sporting facilities as well as its secure location. Despite entering the bidding late, Aldershot beat off other world-beating sports facilities from around the country including Bath and Leicester Universities to house the 750-strong British team. Sporting facilities at the Army town include: a 400- metre running track, a 50-metre Olympic swimming pool, which is already home to the British Olympic synchronised swimming squad, a rugby stadium, an indoor tennis centre and secure Army barracks, normally used to house new recruits, but which will be home to British athletes between July and mid-August 2012. The facilities also incorporates the Army Centre of Sporting Excellence, as well as the Army School of Physical Training, and have been used for training by more than 20 Olympians including ex-soldier and double Olympic gold medallist, Dame Kelly Holmes. The Army's world-class sporting facilities and accommodation at Aldershot are being managed and further developed by Carillion and KBR's joint venture company, Aspire Defence, as part of an £12 billion MoD PFI contract to deliver and operate improved living, working and sporting facilities for 18,700 military personnel at Aldershot and across Salisbury Plain. Simon Clegg, a former major at the Aldershot garrison, said: "After very careful deliberation over the past few months the BOA panel has concluded that our preferred choice should be Aldershot. "In reaching this difficult decision we have taken into account the following factors: availability of sports facilities and accommodation, maximum critical mass, local transport, access to Stratford, security, access to quality medical facilities, closest replication of Olympic village environment, logistics and potential. Overall, Aldershot provided the best total package to meet our requirements." Aldershot garrison's Colonel Nigel Josling OBE was delighted with the news. "This is a fantastic opportunity for the Army and Army sport in particular. It has come about because of a fortunate coincidence of the 2012 games being held in London at a time when Aldershot garrison is being redeveloped. "With sensible management, we are convinced we can provide Team GB with a unique opportunity to prepare for the games, and at the same time maintain support to our own soldiers. "It must also be a great opportunity for some of the most talented Army athletes to raise their own game. It will be a team effort in other ways too, drawing upon the long-standing partnership we have with the local community of Rushmoor and the strong relationship we have built with the Project Allenby/Connaught contractors, Aspire Defence Limited." Despite being named last month as one of the UK's most popular places to live, Aldershot suffers from serious 'deprivation' and skill shortages compared with other nearby towns. It has no sixth form college in the town and many services are being withdrawn due, Conservative councillors say, to lack of funds. The town centre itself has many empty shops and has been described by residents and visitors as looking "extremely run down". Violent crime also remains stubbornly high. For many residents and businesses in Aldershot and the surrounding areas, the primary question is 'What benefits can the people of Aldershot expect from hosting the GB Olympic Team?' Andrew Lloyd, chief executive of Rushmoor Borough Council, said: "I think the benefits for Aldershot and the surrounding area are quite enormous. Recently we have had positive publicity about Aldershot being a good place to live, but with Team GB coming here it should further bolster the local economy. "I think the most significant benefit of this is for young people. Young people need to be motivated to do more sport and what better springboard than to have these fantastic facilities and to have Team GB on their doorstep. "It also shows a further commitment by the Army and by Aspire to the town, and its continued status as the home of the British Army, as well as helping change the perception of Aldershot from an old grey town, to a shiny new sustainable town. I think the future for Aldershot looks very exciting."
