City's potential for 2012 (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

City's potential for 2012

SALISBURY'S bid to play as full a part as possible in London's 2012 Olympics hit the ground running last week, when enthusiastic sports people, educators and business co-ordinators gathered for the city's inaugural Olympic conference.

The meeting, organised by the Journal, was the brainchild of Salisbury MP Rob Key, a former sports minister, who has seen at first hand the opportunities and advantages that the games can bring, not just to a host city, but to a whole country.

His conviction that Salisbury is ideally placed within reach of London, the sailing at Weymouth and Southampton, a potential football venue, to serve as a retreat/ training camp/holiday destination for thousands of athletes and sports fans, drew dozens of likeminded people to the Arts Centre to share their ideas about how to realise Salisbury's Olympic potential.

Among them were former Bath rugby star Phillip de Glanville, now a member of Sport England South West, and local Olympian Margaret Thomas, who competed in the shooting event in Seoul.

They stressed that, even while all eyes are on Beijing 2008, there is plenty Salisbury can be doing to put itself in pole position when Olympic roles are ready to be allocated.

Mr de Glanville recommended a swift audit of transport, accommodation and sporting facilities in the area, so that Salisbury is ready to set its stall out and match its resources to the requirements of London's organising committee as soon as they are announced.

And Mrs Thomas volunteered her services to address any schools and businesses in need of some Olympic inspiration. The conference also introduced several businesses looking for sponsorship opportunities to coaches in search of financial support for their most able proteges - work which will now be continued at the forthcoming Business Expo, on September 29, at the City Hall.

The role that Salisbury's talented young athletes could play in 2012 was brought into sharp focus, with teachers and coaches alike anxious to motivate our youngsters now and put the resources in place to allow those with ability to realise their full potential.

Among the concrete proposals was one to make copies of London's inspirational promotional video available, to be shown in all local schools and sports clubs and to seek to persuade schools and businesses to change their attitudes and allow the athletes among them the time and flexibility to be able to train.

The conference was hailed a great success and hopes are high that, together, the delegates have taken the first step on the road to making Salisbury an Olympic city.

The Journal will support the Olympic campaign by running a Search For An Olympian column, designed to highlight our talented youngsters and help put them in touch with local business sponsors.