Olympic Games training camp gets Coe's approval (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Lord Coe visits St Mary's University College as it prepares for Olympic Games

3:50pm Thursday 28th April 2011 in News By Joanna Kilvington

Richmond will play an integral part in the build up of the London 2012 Olympics, according to the man at the helm of its organisation.

Lord Sebastian Coe, who won 1,500m gold in the 1980 Moscow Games and four years later in Los Angeles, returned to the track on Wednesday when he visited St Mary’s University College to announce its facilities would be used as a training camp by athletes from Ireland, South Africa and China during the Games.

Lord Coe, who was born in Chiswick, described how delighted he was to return to the area and said the Olympics offered a chance to display the area’s natural beauty.

He said: “I know the region well as I used to do a lot of training in both Richmond and Bushy parks.

“That was why the cycling road race will be taking place here.

“The area has been chosen not only because the terrain will be challenging for the athletes, but also for its picturesque surroundings, which will showcase it to the rest of the world.

“St Mary’s College University has developed world class facilities and I’m happy to see them being put to use for the Olympics and that they are here for future generations.”

As chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, Lord Coe met political figures, athletes from sports clubs and students from nearby schools.

Richmond College student Ainsley Campbell, 18, who is a 400m runner for Great Britain and has his sights set on competing in the 2016 Olympics, explained how beneficial it was to have the running track at St Mary’s close by.

He said: “The facilities here are amazing, I’m probably going to come down and watch some of the teams train, and I’m really looking forward to the Olympics coming to London.”

Ross Murray, 20, is a second year science student at the Twickenham College whose speciality is running, said he was surprised to see his hero Lord Coe at the track when he turned up to train on Wednesday morning.

He said: “I read his book on holiday when I was 15 and I’ve been a fan ever since.

“I’ve been running all over the world, but I always think there is no better place to run than around here. It’s amazing the university is going to have world-class athletes training on the grounds.”

Mayor of Richmond Councillor David Marlow, who took part in Lord Coe’s visit, said: “For everyone at the university, a visit from Lord Coe will have served as a morale booster in the run up to the Games, and is testament to its results in training students to the highest standards.

“The success the university has had in attracting the Chinese, South African and Irish teams is a great credit and again underlines the high standards and facilities which are available.”

• What do you think of the visit? Let us know by email (jkilvington@london.newsquest.co.uk), phone the newsdesk on 020 8744 4272 or leave a comment below.