Olympic teams 'will train in Plymouth'
ONE of the London 2012 Olympic chiefs has hailed Plymouth as an inspirational place and said he believes it will play a part in the build-up to the games.
Paul Deighton visited Plymouth yesterday to witness the launch of The Blue Mile, a unique sporting and environmental event, alongside city leaders.
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STARTING GUN: (from left) Guy Lavender, Paul Deighton, Vivien Pengelly, Jim Knight, Linda Gilroy and Conrad Humphreys launch The Blue Mile 'race for the environment' at the Mayflower Steps
The chief executive of the London organising committee of the 2012 Games said he expected Olympic teams from around the world to train in the city and that 'a lot of investment' seemed to be being pumped into the city's 'exciting' facilities.
He was in the city for the official launch of The Blue Mile initiative in which thousands of participants will be invited to complete a mile in, or next to, water in a 'race for the environment' next summer.
"If you think of Plymouth's heritage with the Pilgrim Fathers, Sir Francis Drake and more recently Sir Francis Chichester – and our state as an island – there's no better place in the UK to launch something like this," he said, speaking at the historic Mayflower Steps.
"To me, this is the perfect place. It really works for Plymouth and it ties in perfectly with the 2012 Games.
"It's an inspirational place."
Mr Deighton also hailed Plymouth diver Tom Daley's achievements earlier this week at the World Diving Championships in Rome.
The 15-year-old schoolboy was crowned Great Britain's first individual world diving champion, winning a gold medal at the spectacular event.
"What better way to get people excited about 2012 and the prospect of British people winning medals?" Mr Deighton said: then joked: "I just hope he hasn't peaked too early.
"He's only 15, so I don't think that'll be the case. I think his achievements so far have been just brilliant. The confidence that win must have given him; it'll be perfect for him in terms of his development and preparation for 2012."
The Blue Mile is being run in partnership with Plymouth City Council working to maximise opportunities presented by the London 2012 Games.
As well as a host of events both in and out of the water encouraging people of all ages to travel a mile on the water, a Blue village will be created on the Hoe.
Conrad Humphreys, Plymouth-based round-the-world yachtsman and founder of the Blue Project, said: "The aim of the project is to engage people with their water environment.
"We have 250,000 people living in this city who are within walking distance of the water. We want to get them to participate in this event to improve health and to immerse them in their natural environment in the hope they help to protect it."
Conrad said he would be visiting city schools to encourage children to raise funds and join in with the project, and hoped the Blue Mile's website would act as a learning tool.
Round-the-world sailor Sam Davies, also a Blue ambassador, added: "I sailed out of Plymouth harbour when I began the Transat race last year and the atmosphere was electric. I'm looking forward to being part of The Blue Mile next year."
To get involved in the initiative visit www.thebluemile.org.
6 Comments
by chaos, hells kitchen
Sunday, October 11 2009, 2:51AM
“its a shame that those inspired where guided by the hand of the man in black, from the medical to the olympiad from the police to the bussinesman from the mp to the true hearted councilor i say its a shame because due to the corruption shown by the pm and by the majority of this govenment and the romanian all that the man in black does now is watch the night skies and keeps his dreams and nightmares under wraps so in the end all lose and those who gained did so only in the very short term.”
by Hermes (and Thelemia), Plymouth
Sunday, July 26 2009, 11:39PM
“In summer, one dawn, as Goddess rose undoubtedly best;
Belled chalaced toured together, rhythmos beauty all quested.
Towards an arena near town, all each brethren freely truth spoken;
Laughter ever effects lasting forged days travelled fun through darkness.
Harsh work suspended, uncloaked striven play fair bonded fate, game gained to all;
Love positioning grace; poetically tasked gently toward healing all veiled walls.
Beginning wisdom shouldered, eaves arced alms generation known garlands rayed mounting;
Echoed voice sung looped Mesopotamian lapis lazul; faced pendance, love looped resurgem!
Crowd returning yearly blossomed, promised freely since last and since first spring
Open entrance awoken all freedom even watched three friends guardians peace often keeping”
by William Penn, Plymouth.
Sunday, July 26 2009, 6:14PM
“Boris, Rich & Cynical you miserable bunch of self loathing, unhappy, bigoted, idiots. It is people like you who give us Plymouthians a bad name, not the drug dealers and the fighting drunks. Druggies and drunks are everywhere and they are getting dealt with - but it only seems to be small minded, people with a narrow world view who insist on bringing Plymouth down.
Rejoice in this fantastic city, be proud to call yourself a Plymouthian. If not; shut up.”
by rich, plymouth
Saturday, July 25 2009, 9:16PM
“judging bythe headlines in the e-herald today surely Plymouth is best placed to inspire the nations boxing & judo teams LOL!
ps the drugs testing team could get practice here too!”
by Boris Napper, Eddystone lighthouse
Saturday, July 25 2009, 2:33PM
“Plymouth is only inspirational in the sense that it causes people to seek out other places in order to escape to.
If youth crime and socially dysfunctional behavior was an olympic sport then Plymouth would be in line for a few golds.”
by cynical, Plymouth
Saturday, July 25 2009, 6:22AM
“I note that while other parts of the country have been told exactly what sports will be training in their area's we are told " ONE of the London 2012 Olympic chiefs has hailed Plymouth as an inspirational place and said he believes it will play a part in the build-up to the games." Hmmmmmm I'll believe it when it happens”