Funding wrangles prevent Olympic teams from using York as training base (From Times Series)
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Funding wrangles prevent Olympic teams from using York as training base
9:05am Saturday 21st July 2012 in London Olympics 2012 - Latest News
By Mark Stead, Political Reporter
OLYMPIC teams will not be using York as their training base for the London 2012 Games after hitting funding problems.
Agreements signed two years ago were due to see sportsmen and women from the Gambia and Guinea-Bissau use facilities in the city for their preparations ahead of the Olympics, which will begin next week.
But City of York Council has now confirmed the teams have pulled out due to financial issues. They were originally expected to use Huntington Stadium, York College and facilities at the city’s two universities for their training camp.
The facilities the teams were set to use had been given pre-Games accreditation, and at the time of the agreement, Olympics supremo Lord Coe described it as “great news for York”.
Gill Cooper, the council’s head of arts, culture and heritage, said: “Like a number of other local authorities, we’re very disappointed some athletes from overseas are unable to attend pre-Games training because of funding pressures.
“York’s sporting facilities have been designated suitable for international-standard training while offering good value, and we hope the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) can resolve this matter with those countries affected by economic pressures.
“While we were looking forward to this culturally-enriching visit, the preparation work has resulted in strong sporting links being forged between York St John University and the University of The Gambia, and has not caused any loss of revenue for York.”
Several other African countries, including Senegal, Uganda and Mozambique, have abandoned their training plans in the UK at the last minute as they are unable to pay the fees involved.
Momodou Demba, chef du mission at Gambia’s National Olympic Committee, said: “Unfortunately, it [the York training camp] did not work out.
“LOCOG promise to take care of the bill, but the fact we would have to put the money up first then be reimbursed does not go down well. It’s quite expensive.”
LOCOG has said it had always made it clear that it would reimburse Olympic committees “at the end” in order to “eliminate fraud and accusations of impropriety”.
Comments(19)
AnotherPointofView
says...
10:17am Sat 21 Jul 12
I can't believe how the teams can be so close to the games before realising this.
RingoStarr
says...
11:35am Sat 21 Jul 12
Torycouncil2015
says...
11:48am Sat 21 Jul 12
bloodaxe
says...
11:54am Sat 21 Jul 12
Oaklands Resident wrote:"Several other African countries, including Senegal, Uganda and Mozambique, have abandoned their training plans in the UK at the last minute as they are unable to pay the fees involved."
So more bad news and - surprise, surprise - the responsible "Cabinet" member (Red Sonja) disappears from sight?
She should justify her failure to deliver on the Olympic Games promises made over the last year.
Why do you not read the article ? It isn't anything to do with York, the council, the universities or the man in the moon.
bloodaxe
says...
11:56am Sat 21 Jul 12
RingoStarr wrote:Read the article again. Then once more.
Sonja Pork-Scratchings and Calamity James strike again!
Woody G Mellor
says...
2:07pm Sat 21 Jul 12
RingoStarr
says...
6:08pm Sat 21 Jul 12
bloodaxe wrote:No thanks...Once was enough!
RingoStarr wrote:Read the article again. Then once more.
Sonja Pork-Scratchings and Calamity James strike again!
powerwatt
says...
8:59pm Sat 21 Jul 12
As for Gambia... they aren't a country that like to invest in sport.
Cllr Sonja Crisp
says...
4:27am Sun 22 Jul 12
“Like a number of other local authorities, we’re very disappointed some athletes from overseas are unable to attend pre-Games training because of funding pressures.
“York’s sporting facilities have been designated suitable for international-standa
rd training while offering good value, and we hope the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) can resolve this matter with those countries affected by economic pressures.
“While we were looking forward to this culturally-enriching visit, the preparation work has resulted in strong sporting links being forged between York St John University and the University of The Gambia, and has not caused any loss of revenue for York.”
Several other African countries, including Senegal, Uganda and Mozambique, have abandoned their training plans in the UK at the last minute as they are unable to pay the fees involved.
Momodou Demba, chef du mission at Gambia’s National Olympic Committee, said: “Unfortunately, it did not work out.
“LOCOG promise to take care of the bill, but the fact we would have to put the money up first then be reimbursed does not go down well. It’s quite expensive.”
LOCOG has said it had always made it clear that it would reimburse Olympic committees “at the end” in order to “eliminate fraud and accusations of impropriety”.
...do you not understand?
Bloodaxe is absolutely right....this is not the fault of any council anywhere.
For the record, I have never promised I have any control over LOCOG's funding decisions and I certainly cannot be held responsible for countries who either do not qualify, or cannot afford to fund themselves and wait for LOCOG to pay up afterwards.
You are getting very desperate and clutching at straws Cllr Watt and it shows....
Torycouncil2015
says...
6:36am Sun 22 Jul 12
For the record then Cllr Crisp what have you achieved in your year in office?
Sillybillies
says...
5:45pm Sun 22 Jul 12
Woody G Mellor
says...
6:03pm Sun 22 Jul 12
Sillybillies wrote:Bl00dy hell! Have you read nothing? You silly billy.
How much has the council spent in preparing for the visit that never happened and can it be claimed back from LOCOG?
Sillybillies
says...
7:35pm Sun 22 Jul 12
Barfield24
says...
8:42am Mon 23 Jul 12
meme
says...
9:26am Mon 23 Jul 12
How many were supposed to come here?
For once its NOT Red Sonias fault. I suspect their manager s have defected with the monies to some other unheard of African country with a corrupt dictator as a leader and are using the money to write letters telling us they have millions in a bank account and if we give them our bank details they will give us 50% of it to transfer it to the UK!
Does anyone actually fall for this?
m dee
says...
8:50pm Mon 23 Jul 12
RingoStarr
Torycouncil2015
Dear oh dear you look rather foolish not understanding the article and having a go at the council ,shows you all made the same mistake or just jump in to political point score as soon as the council are mentioned in any article.
Torycouncil2015
says...
12:26pm Tue 24 Jul 12
m dee wrote:where as you believe everything you read in the press? Im sure Calamity james' "bung fund" of £20 million could have been of some assistance
Oaklands Resident
RingoStarr
Torycouncil2015
Dear oh dear you look rather foolish not understanding the article and having a go at the council ,shows you all made the same mistake or just jump in to political point score as soon as the council are mentioned in any article.
m dee
says...
9:55am Thu 26 Jul 12
Oaklands Resident says...
9:26am Sat 21 Jul 12
She should justify her failure to deliver on the Olympic Games promises made over the last year.