Birmingham could host several teams ahead of 2012 Olympics

Dec 15 2008 By Catherine Lillington

Birmingham's sports chief said he believes the city is capable of hosting athletes from as many as nine countries for the 2012 Olympics.

Coun Ray Hassall said “parts of teams” could stay in the run-up to and during Britain’s first games in 60 years. He said: “We can handle seven, eight or nine countries in Birmingham. We’ve got the facilities here.

“The word is on the street for all the countries that, if they want to come and locate here, they’re welcome.”

His comments follow a recent visit to the city by Seb Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee.

The legendary athlete hailed Birmingham as “one of the jewels in the crown” in the sporting world when he met members of the West Midlands Youth Parliament and toured the new £7.5 million Gymnastics and Martial Arts Centre, at Alexander Stadium, on Monday.

The cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture said thousands of sporting stars and team crew members could be put up in the city’s universities’ accommodation.

Then there are the seven world-class venues at: GMAC, the High Performance Centre also on the site of the Alexander Stadium, the NIA, NEC, the Munro Centre at Birmingham University and the Priory in Edgbaston.

He said: “The NEC alone could host a major country for just about everything.”