Over 50 local Olympians and Paralympians could benefit from free training facilities in Leicester.
Leicester City Council has accepted an invitation from the British Olympic Association (BOA) to become one of the first official local authority ‘supporting cities’ to partner the BOA Passport Scheme. The
agreement means Leicester City Council will provide free access to local training facilities for future Olympic athletes from Leicester and surrounding areas.
The BOA Passport Scheme offers the top 2000 athletes across the UK a package of benefits which support their sporting and personal life. National sports governing bodies are asked to nominate sportsmen and women who they believe would benefit from the scheme. This could mean that over 50 young people living in Leicester and Leicestershire will be able to train free of charge at locations local to them. They will also have access to BOA specialist facilities across the UK.
Leicester has had a number of prominent Olympic and Paralympic athletes including Jayant Mistry, Daniel Greaves and Kerry Williams.
Photograph show, from left to right Graham Newsom, BOA Director of Communications, Lord Mayor of Leicester Cllr Paul Westley and Jayant Mistry Leicester's first recipient of the BOA's 'supporting cities - Leicester Passport Scheme.
Local Paralaympian recognises training support from city leisure centre
One of the country's top paralympians has praised the training support she received from Braunstone Leisure Centre.
Jane Stidever, a top disability swimmer, has just returned from the International Paralympic World Games 2006 in Durban South Africa with gold medals in the medley and freestle relays. She also achieved personal bests in the 50m and 100m freestyle, finishing seventh in both events and eighth in 50m backstroke.
On her return both Jane and her mum Jill Stidever, were quick to praise the Braunstone Leisure Centre for their support in allowing free access to the pool for training during the pre-event build up period.
Jill said: "We are indebted to the Leicester City Council for allowing Jane free access to swimming at the city's Braunstone Leisure. This has enabled her to be in the best of shape for the World Games and has paid off handsomely with impressive all-round performances and medal tally".
Earlier in the year, Leicester City Council accepted an invitation from the British Olympic Association (BOA) to become one of the first official local authority 'supporting cities' to partner the BOA Passport Scheme. The agreement means Leicester City Council provides free access to local training facilities for future Olympic athletes from Leicester and surrounding areas.
Jane Stidever, a top disability swimmer, has just returned from the International Paralympic World Games 2006 in Durban South Africa with gold medals in the medley and freestle relays. She also achieved personal bests in the 50m and 100m freestyle, finishing seventh in both events and eighth in 50m backstroke.
On her return both Jane and her mum Jill Stidever, were quick to praise the Braunstone Leisure Centre for their support in allowing free access to the pool for training during the pre-event build up period.
Jill said: "We are indebted to the Leicester City Council for allowing Jane free access to swimming at the city's Braunstone Leisure. This has enabled her to be in the best of shape for the World Games and has paid off handsomely with impressive all-round performances and medal tally".
Earlier in the year, Leicester City Council accepted an invitation from the British Olympic Association (BOA) to become one of the first official local authority 'supporting cities' to partner the BOA Passport Scheme. The agreement means Leicester City Council provides free access to local training facilities for future Olympic athletes from Leicester and surrounding areas.
Find out more about the 2012 Olympic Strategy Consultation here.

