Valley to Prepare as Olympic Training Centre

This week Finn Valley announced an initiative which may allow the club to make its mark on world athletics. The club is preparing to market their own location and the wider Donegal area as a training base for the London 2012 Olympics games. A planning application has been lodged with Donegal Coounty Council for a new weights and fitness suite; this construction will be completed in 2006. A further application will be submitted for a real grass pitch with floodlighting on the existing grass in-field at the Centre. An immediate job in hand is the construction of tartan jump run-up for long, triple and high jump areas in addition to pole vault.

Discussions have gone on for countless years about a swimming pool on the site but there is nothing definite at this time. Recently a local grouping have committment to the provision of all weather courts.

The club will be contacting all 214 members of the Olympic committee outlining the availability of training facilities in the area; an obvious plus is the existence of the Derry-Stansted air link. Ireland, Britain and many nations used Cyprus as a training base prior to Athens, while in Sydney, many team based themselves hours by flight time from the Olympic site. The Valley chairman Patsy McGonagle has experienced this working situation at both these Olympic venues and is familiar with requirements.

Sports that could be accommodated at Valley and in the wider County region are athletics, boxing, Gymnastics, Sailing, Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton, Triathlon, Weight-lifting, tennis etc. Indeed with a little bit of foresight Gartan could stage Rowing preparation. Finn Valley would welcome a more joined up Donegal approach involving the Council and tourist agencies as it would focus and promote the county in what will be an exciting period as the London build up kicks in.

It is interesting to remember the local input that the visiting Special Olympic teams made in the various towns prior to the World Special Olympics being held in Dublin some years ago; and that only lasted a week. Recently Mr. Pat the "Cope" Gallagher called on Donegal Co. Council to become the lead agency and no doubt Finn Valley would welcome that.

Contact: Niall McGonagle. Tel no. 0861038036 Newsletters by Niall McGonagle, Club P.R.O.