The brochure and DVD entitled "Gateway to Gold" was shown for the first time at the event held at the John Charles Centre for Sport and highlighted a wide range of venues in Leeds which could be used to host training camps in the build-up to the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

 

Copies of the DVD and brochure are to be distributed to every Olympic and Paralympic association ready for their return from Beijing.

 

This will be followed by more targeted work with those countries where there are differences with the UK in areas such as climate, time zones and diet as these are key factors that athletes will need to overcome as they prepare for London 2012.

 

Earlier this year facilities at John Charles Centre for Sport, Rothwell Leisure Centre, Headingley Carnegie Stadium, University of Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan University, the Middleton Equestrian Centre and The Grammar School at Leeds were named by the London 2012 organisers in a list of potential training facilities.

 

Moorhouse, the Olympic 100 metres breaststroke gold medallist at Seoul in 1988, spent 12 years training in Leeds.

 

He is now based in Buckinghamshire where he founded and runs Lane4, a highly successful international performance development consultancy.

 

The name of the company comes from the number of the lane that Moorhouse swam in at Seoul.

 

But Moorhouse retains strong affection for Moorhouse.

 

He said: "I am really pleased to have the opportunity to help promote Leeds as a training destination for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 

"As the Beijing Olympic Games draw to a close, international teams will start to plan and prepare for the next Olympics and I have every confidence that Leeds and the Yorkshire region can provide the range of training facilities and services that will meet their expectations.

 

“The Gateway to Gold brochure and DVD will help promote the city and attract international teams to Leeds during the next four years.”

 

John Procter, the Leeds City Council executive member for leisure, said:  "It is fantastic to welcome Adrian, the most famous Leeds Olympian ever, back to the city for this special launch.

 

"Having been there and done it, Adrian is the perfect man to talk to about the importance of having the right facilities when training for the Olympics.

 

“We are very proud of the fantastic sports facilities we now have here in Leeds, and by showcasing them in this way we are confident athletes from the UK and beyond will make use of them as they get ready for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in London."