SEBASTIAN COE, the chairman of London 2012, has joined former team-mate Dave Moorcroft to open a new £9 million Leisure Centre in Coventry.

 

Coe visited the Midlands city to see the Xcel Leisure Centre, which includes a 25-metre pool, all-weather sports pitches, fitness and health suites and conference rooms, together with Moorcroft, the former chief executive of UK Athletics.

 

Moorcroft, the former  world record holder for the 5,000 metres and Coventry's most successful athlete, was a team-mate of Coe's in Britain's Olympic teams that competed in Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984.

 

Coe said: “Coming here to sell the Olympic Games is like preaching to the converted.

 

“The whole region has such a proud sporting history and understands what it means to have the biggest sporting event in the world in our back yard.”

 

A dozen venues in Coventry and Warwickshire have been short-listed as possible training camps for Olympics, including Coventry Sports Centre in Fairfax Street, the Ricoh Arena and the city’s two universities.

 

Coe said: “The region with its world- class facilities has a great opportunity to attract teams during the Olympics.

 

“It’s not just about attracting a little bit of transient trade, it’s about giving local youngsters the chance to see how world-class competitors train to inspire and guide them.”

 

Paul Breed, chief executive of Coventry Sports Foundation, which manages the Xcel Leisure Centre, said the opening ceremony was the culmination of 12 years hard work by a vast number of people.

 

He said: “To have the chairman of the London Organising Committee, Lord Coe, to perform the opening is a real honour and fitting tribute to everyone concerned."