Disability Sport Wales
Chwaraeon Anabledd Cymru
The Federation of Disability Sport Wales (FDSW) is a pan-disability National Governing Body of Sport Which aims to promote and develop quality sports opportunities
New Zealand Paralympians choose Swansea
The New Zealand Paralympic team has chosen Swansea as the place to make final preparations for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The decision of Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) is the result of two detailed visits and seven months negotiation between high-performance sport staff in Wales and New Zealand.
First Minister Rhodri Morgan has been actively involved in promoting Wales as a pre-Games training destination and was delighted with the decision. He said: “The sporting links between Wales and New Zealand are long and strong. They can only be further strengthened by this agreement. With the Games three hours away in the East End of London, the decision will mean that the people of Swansea and West Wales will gain exposure to international athletes preparing on their doorstep for the biggest sporting event ever to come to the UK.”
PNZ’s Chief Executive Fiona Pickering said that their high performance team had been “hugely impressed with the facilities in Swansea and the team of people in Wales.”
The New Zealand decision is the result of an ‘All Wales’ partnership approach to attracting teams, led by the Welsh Assembly Government. Swansea City Council, Swansea University and Disability Sport Wales have played an important part in negotiations in ensuring that Wales will deliver an ideal environment for final Games preparations.
Cllr Graham Thomas, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, said: “This is fantastic news for Swansea. We have been working hard over many months with our partners in the Welsh Assembly Government to attract one of the London 2012 nations and we’re delighted to welcome competitors from New Zealand.”
“This is further proof that the investment, by the Council and its partners Swansea University and the Sports Council for Wales, has created in Swansea some of the best sporting facilities in the UK. The Wales National Pool, regional athletics track and top class artificial training pitches, along with the range of facilities at the LC, will be a great training base for the Paralympians from New Zealand.”
“The Paralympic Games is a world-wide event and we can now look forward to being a major part of it and raising Swansea and Wales’s profile as a major sporting destination.”
Jon Morgan, Executive Director of Disability Sport Wales said: “We believe that Swansea will provide an excellent base for PNZ for their pre-Games training camp and are confident that the team will experience a very high standard of support as they prepare for the Games”
“We look forward to working with Welsh Assembly Government, Swansea and the PNZ team over the next 3 years, not only to ensure that their athlete requirements are met in full, but also to maximise this unique opportunity that will allow us to develop broader links between our respective national programmes and the communities we serve.”
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