Chinese gymnasts pick NI training camp

The Men and Womens' Chinese National Artistic Gymnastics teams won 18 medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and are expected to be frontrunner at next year's games.

Up to 30 team members will descend on Lisburn for ten days during summer 2012, including 16 gymnasts, officials and a doctor, to put the finishing touches to their Olympic preparations.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín, who said the news is to be greatly welcomed.

"The world number one country in gymnastics has chosen the north of Ireland to achieve their Olympic goals.

"Having the best in the world to train locally will raise the profile of the sport and the local facilities. This is something everyone can be proud of and I hope that this inspires our young people to get involved in sport."

The decision was made after Chinese coaches Xiong Jingbin and Jin Weiguo visited the facilities at Salto in July.

Minister Ní Chuilín said the announcement to locate in NI was down to "the great relationships developed by Salto's own coach Sun Jie; and the partnership adopted by my Department, Lisburn City Council and Sport NI".

Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games said the decision reinforces to other teams that "Northern Ireland is a terrific place to train and prepare".

"Having visited Salto on a number of occasions over the years, I know the Chinese artistic gymnasts will enjoy being based at one of the best gymnastics facilities in the UK," said Lord Coe.

"The team is also assured one of the warmest welcomes as they spend time in Lisburn."

The Chinese camp is the third team to use Northern Ireland's facilities as a training ground, with the Irish Paralympic team using Antrim Forum and the Australian boxing team also to train at Queen's PEC.

The pre-Olympic qualifying Yonex Irish International Badminton Championships in December is also expected to attract a further 25 countries.

Chairman of Sport NI, Dominic Walsh is hopeful that other Olympic competitors will choose the region as their pre-games destination.

"The recognition by China to train at Salto, further cements the centre's reputation across the world and helps to raise Northern Ireland's profile on a global stage."

"There have been other delegations viewing our facilities and discussions have been held with several teams as the various qualifying events continue," he said.

Alliance Lagan Valley MLA Trevor Lunn has also welcomed the announcement.

"It is great news for Lisburn both in terms of the money that it will put into the local economy and by the relations that it will create with China.

"I hope that this announcement will inspire local children to one day be Olympic stars themselves.

"I have no doubt that local people will show our renowned hospitality to these athletes and make them feel at home," Mr Lunn commented.