Team USA select Sheffield as the training base in the lead up to London 2012
27 August 2010
Sheffield is today celebrating USA Diving’s selection of Sheffield as its base for international training camps in the build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Following 18 months of talks with representatives from Sheffield, USA Diving announced the city as the ideal location for their Olympic athletes to train.
The US divers will be based in Sheffield using the world class facilities at Sheffield International Venues (SIV) managed Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield over the next two years whilst preparing for the games.
The announcement to host the USA Diving team is expected to bring significant economic benefits to Sheffield and will generate an expected £50,000. It is also anticipated that the family and friends travelling with the USA team will more than double the figure.
Diving is the first USA squad to be based in Sheffield for international training camps and discussions will continue to take place with other USA teams to base themselves here. This is the second Olympic nation to choose Sheffield as a base, following the announcement in May 2008 that the Serbian Olympic squad had chosen Sheffield and Leeds for their pre-games training camp base.
Hosting one of the world’s best Olympic teams will continue to raise the profile of the city and wider Yorkshire region to other international countries.
Councillor Paul Scriven, Leader of Sheffield City Council said: “We are delighted that Team USA will join us in Sheffield.
“There’s been a great deal of hard work gone into attracting US Diving to Sheffield, but it’s all been an excellent investment. Sheffield’s economy will grow as a direct result of hosting this team, generating tens of thousands of pounds into the city. Sheffielders can be proud that such a high profile sporting nation will be here in their city training for 2012.
“This will also be a chance for local people to get more involved and get excited about the London 2012 Games, so we will be encouraging the US divers to get involved with local people and with life here and enjoy what Sheffield has to offer.”
Steve Foley, High Performance Director for USA Diving said, “USA Diving is extremely excited to name Sheffield as their pre London 2012 training site.
“Many venues within the UK and also throughout Europe were carefully considered but in the end, the outstanding facilities of Ponds Forge and the English Institute of Sport, plus excellent hotels and the superb location for easy commute to and from London were the determining factors.
“I am grateful to Sheffield for all their hard work and support in assisting this to happen and I look forward to returning to a place that holds many fabulous memories for me.”
Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games said: “This is great news for Sheffield. I am sure that the USA Diving team will be provided with a very warm welcome and that they will enjoy training and acclimatising at Ponds Forge. As a former competitor I’m very aware of the importance of preparing well and the excellent facilities on offer should provide the athletes with a great setting in which to prepare for London 2012. It is a great way for Sheffield to feel real benefits of the London 2012 Olympic Games and to get involved!”
The first diving training camp is expected to take place at Ponds Forge in Sheffield in February 2012 as USA Diving prepare for the FINA Diving World Cup. Ponds Forge is one the most established diving high performance centres in the UK and US Diving also hope to use the John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds for some of their sessions.
Sheffield has already seen significant benefits of hosting international training camps over the past 2 years. Along with the permanent location of GB teams in the city, over £1 million has been generated for the local economy directly from national and international teams using Sheffield’s facilities and expertise.
Gary Verity, Chair of Yorkshire Gold - the regional committee for London 2012, said: “I’m delighted to welcome the US Diving team to Sheffield where they will be able to ensure the perfect preparation for the Games.
“With several international squads from across the globe already committed to using Yorkshire as a training base for London 2012 this latest announcement cements the county’s reputation as a global centre of sporting excellence.
“Pre-games training camps will result in significant gains for the regional economy and with the prospect of more training squads committing themselves to Yorkshire in the near future we can look forward to genuine financial and cultural rewards in 2012.”
Steve Foley, High Performance Manager for USA Diving will return to Sheffield in November and experience the outstanding level of sporting expertise and high concentration of world class facilities based in Sheffield, including the largest English Institute of Sport venue in the country and world class Ponds Forge International Sports Centre both operated by Sheffield International Venues.
For further information about Sheffield - Lighting the Flame for Sport visit www.sheffield-lightingtheflame.com
London 2012 begins search for team to design, engineer and manufacture the Olympic and Paralympic Torches
August 2010
Talented designers, engineers and manufacturers from across the UK are being invited to design one of the world’s most iconic images of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the Design Council have joined forces to begin the process of finding innovative companies or individuals to create the Olympic and Paralympic torches for the London 2012 torch relays.
At least 8,000 torches will be required to enable torchbearers to carry the Olympic Flame the length and breadth of the UK during the 70-day Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung.
The design and development of the torch, as well as lanterns, mini cauldrons and other related products for both relays are also part of the three separate briefs for design, engineering and manufacture.
Paul Deighton, LOCOG CEO, said: “The creation of the torches to carry the Olympic and Paralympic Flames is a unique opportunity for London 2012 to literally shine a light on the UK’s best design, engineering and manufacturing talent. We are looking for an expert team to create the torches that will be held by thousands of people that represent the very best of our nation as the UK begins its Olympic and Paralympic celebrations with the Torch Relays in the summer of 2012.”
Companies can compete for the design contract by registering on CompeteFor, a free service that enables businesses to compete for contract opportunities linked to the London 2012 Games and other major public and private sector buying organisations, such as Transport for London, Crossrail and the Metropolitan Police. Log onto www.competefor.com for more information or call 0845 2177804. Any business can register for CompeteFor free of charge.
Companies in Yorkshire can get further information from Yorkshire Gold Business Club (YGBC), an organisation set up to support Yorkshire businesses to win major contracts, including the opportunities presented by the London 2012 Games. YGBC can help organisation to register on the CompeteFor portal and bid for an opportunity. For details contact www.ygbc.co.uk
Harvesting fun at Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet
August 2010
Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet was brought to life this weekend with celebrations to mark the traditional medieval festival Lammas Day.
Families were invited to the hamlet for the third Family Sunday of the summer to mark the first harvest of the season known as ‘the feast of the first fruits’ or ‘loaf mass day.’ The pagan ritual of championing the first loaves of bread baked from the seasons’ fresh harvest marked the end of rationing and celebrated plentiful new stocks.
Youngsters enjoyed the Lammas Day spirit by turning straw bales into a giant scarecrow or making corn pegs and corn dollies. Families also took part in the traditional Lammas Day ribbon dance with authentic fiddler music and singing. And the hamlet’s living history characters provided tours and tales about its history.
Bakers from Sainsbury’s Archer Road store provided scrumptious breads and seasonal foods and families learned more about Fair Trade food on a global scale from the World Development Movement Charity.
Niki Connolly, events and marketing officer for Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust, said: “This year’s Lammas Day event was a feast for the senses with lots do and learn. Children especially enjoyed trying their hand at making corn dollies and weaving their own willow fish. Our scarecrow certainly changed his appearance throughout the day too as youngsters decorated him with funny wigs and old clothes. We hope we have invigorated people’s interest in home-grown produce and showed how central successful harvests were to communities in days gone by.”
Entry into all Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust venues is free during the summer holidays.
Free summer fun at Kelham Island Museum
August 2010
There’s still time for youngsters to enjoy their summer holidays at Kelham Island Museum and Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet before the first school bell of the new term rings in September.
Families can enjoy free admission to Kelham Island Museum until Tuesday 31 August 2010 and Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet is free to enjoy all year.
The Melting Shop children’s play area will be open as usual at Kelham Island Museum for youngsters to explore with extra fun craft activities and interactive games planned for every Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Linley-Marsh family took advantage of the inventive and educational activities planned when they visited the Hawley Gallery at Kelham Island Museum earlier this month to try their hand at the ‘measuring a hair’s breadth challenge.’ They also battered and hammered their way through the ‘make your own measuring rule’ challenge. Step brothers and sisters Bradley Linley, 11, Reece Linley, nine, Jordan Marsh, 11, and 14-year-old Sarah-Jane Marsh were taught the tricks of the trade by volunteers Sarah Rose and Hannah Martin.
There is still time for families to visit the Hawley Gallery and try the ‘measure a hair’s breadth’ challenge too. The activities will be available again on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 August.
Wannabe nurses and doctors can also learn about gory diseases and eye-watering ailments during the ‘medicine then and now’ activities, taking place on 17, 18, 24 and 25 August 2010 at Kelham Island Museum.
Youngsters will look the part after making their own Victorian nurse’s hat. Activities also include making model Victorian workers and discovering the diseases suffered by Victorian’s. The challenge will to match the disease to the cure and St John’s Ambulance will be on hand to show families how to save a life. Visitors can also inspect the Hawley Collection of surgical instruments.
Activities are available at Kelham Island from 10.30am to 3.30pm on each Tuesday and Wednesday. Both sites are open Monday to Thursday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday 11am to 4.45pm but are closed Fridays and Saturdays.
For more information about Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust events and activities visit www.simt.co.uk or contact 0114 272 2106 or email ask@simt.co.uk.
Celebrating the new harvest at Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet
August 2010
An abundance of flavoursome family fun will be on offer this weekend as Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet celebrates the traditional medieval festival Lammas Day.
Families are invited to the hamlet for the third Family Sunday of the summer season on August 8 to mark the first harvest of the season known as ‘the feast of the first fruits’ or ‘loaf mass day.’
The pagan ritual of championing the first loaves of bread baked from the season’s fresh harvest marked the end of food rationing and celebrated the plentiful new stocks. The hamlet will be a hive of activity, sights and smells as this day of thanksgiving is brought to life.
Youngsters can join in the Lammas Day spirit by turning straw bales into a giant scarecrow or making a corn peg or dolly. Living history character Poacher Bill will also be cooking up tasty Victorian recipes via his campfire and telling tales about ferreting, catching rabbits and rats and midnight escapes from his evil landlord.
Families can take part in the traditional Lammas Day ribbon dance with authentic fiddler music and singing and the Meadowhall Raptor Rescue will be bringing along wide-eyed owls, furry ferrets and cute rabbits to play with.
Bakers from Sainsbury’s will be providing delicious breads and seasonal food and budding agriculturalists can also pick up tips about growing vegetables at home from the Friends of Botanical Gardens.
Niki Connolly, events and marketing officer for Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust, said: “At last year’s Lammas Day celebration we welcomed more than 800 people to Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet, the highest attended summer event at the museum to date. This shows the positive impact the free entry is having on attendance. It was a great event with highlights including Poacher’s Bill and Pete showing off their campfire skills by cooking quail and trout accompanied by lamb’s wool brew.
“I’m sure this year’s event will also be a feast for the senses too with lots to do and learn. We hope to invigorate people’s interest in home-grown produce and to show how central successful harvests were to communities in days gone by.”
Entry to all Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust venues is free during the summer holidays.