Major Sports Events and Pre Games Training Camps
The increasing importance of tourism generated by Sports events was recognised in the On Your Marks strategy with a target to attract major sporting events to the region in the build up to London 2012. This was amply fulfilled in 2008 with the Corus Elite Triathlon at Reading's Green Park, the Urban Beach Tour in Milton Keynes and the World’s U21’s Beach Volleyball Tournament in Brighton's Yellowave. As a bonus the Tour of Britain also held a leg between Milton Keynes and Newbury in September 2008.
Support has also given to the first ever Disabled British Open Golf event that was held in Hampshire in August 2009.
The promotion of the region as a base for training camps for the Olympic and Paralympic teams is also a big priority for the South East. Attracting international teams to the region in the lead up to the 2012 Games will result in significant economic and cultural benefits. Significant work has been underway since the South East presence in Beijing in August 2008 and visits have been hosted for a range of nations including Malawi, Barbados, Colombia, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.
For more information on these areas of work, please contact Lindsey Horton, Major Sports and Pre Games Camps Manager Lindsey Horton .