The Saudi Arabian wheelchair basketball squad have announced they are to hold a 10 day training camp at the English Institute of Sport-Sheffield (pictured) this summer (August 28 to September 7).

 

It is the first international paralympic training camp to come to Sheffield and will form part of the Saudi Arabian squad’s preparations for the Gulf Championships this autumn.

 

The Saudi squad are expected to play two matches during their stay in Sheffield, against a Great Britain representative side and Sheffield’s own Steelers wheelchair basketball team.

 

The training camp is being co-ordinated by Saudi British Sports Cooperation Programme, in coordination with BAE Systems. Programme Director Peter Waddell reported that over 60 activities are included in this initiative each year but this will be the first visit to Sheffield.

 

Head of Sport and Director of Olympic and Paralympic Strategy for the City Wayne Coyle, said: “The visit of the Saudi Arabian Paralympic basketball squad this summer offers Sheffield a fantastic opportunity to pull together the infrastructure needed to provide international training camps on a regular basis ahead of the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012.

 

“The announcement emphasises the strong sporting links Sheffield is making across the world and highlights the EIS-Sheffield as a centre of excellence for sport in this country. Hopefully this training camp will be the first of many that the city will host over the next six years.”

 

Paul Hudson, Head Coach of the Sheffield Steelers wheelchair basketball team and Vice Chairman of the GB Wheelchair Basketball Association, said: “I’ve been to Saudi Arabia twice now as part of the Saudi-British Sports Cooperation Programme so it will be great to welcome the Saudi players to Sheffield.

 

“This is the first international Paralympic training camp to be held in the city and will cover everything from coaching, nutrition and psychology to a full social programme for the duration of the athletes’ stay in the city. This represents a great opportunity to exchange ideas and training methods and to build towards the Paralympics in 2012.