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5 Mar 08Poole Bids For The Olympics
Top athletes from around the world could be heading for Poole in preparation for the London Olympics in 2012.
Sandbanks beach, along with three other venues in Poole, has been identified as a potential training base for sportsmen and women preparing for the 2012 Games 
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Organisers of London 2012 have included four Poole venues in a list of 600 sporting facilities across the country which could host visiting teams for training camps.
Sandbanks beach has been chosen as a potential training facility for beach volleyball. Also selected is the OLGA Gymnastics and Trampoline Club at Rossmore Leisure Centre, for Rhythmic Gymnastics, Artistic Gymnastics and Trampoline; Canford Park Arena for Archery; and Parkstone Yacht Club for sailing.
The training camps would offer athletes from across the world the opportunity to train and acclimatise in their sport ahead of the London Games.
Cllr Peter Adams, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, Borough of Poole, said: "This represents a fantastic opportunity to bring the Olympics closer to Poole. We are delighted that our beaches, gymnastics centre and a range of other local facilities have been recognised for their quality and will be marketed to visiting countries from across the globe. It brings us another step closer to attracting a variety of international teams to the area and we will continue to pursue this aim with enthusiasm through continued investment and promotion."
A guide listing the potential training venues will be published at the Beijing 2008 Games. National Olympic Committeess (NOCs) and National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) will be able to decide where to base themselves or where to send individual athletes to prepare.
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