Welcome to SportTalk, the e-bulletin keeping you up to date on all things sport at Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. This July issue is full of programmes you can tap into as well as the latest information on our London 2012 legacy venues, our partnership with Tottenham Hotspur FC and upcoming events across the Park.
If you have any comments or suggestions please contact the team.
aerial view Lee Valley White Water Centre
Lee Valley White Water Centre (LVWWC) is now the official name for the White Water Centre in Broxbourne before and after Games time. Lee Valley Regional Park will own and manage the Centre in legacy as a venue for community and regional paddlesport as well as a major competition and training venue for elite athletes. The world-class Centre is taking shape with concrete works on the two channels well underway. The 160m intermediate course is nearing completion and the 300m Olympic competition course is progressing well and the lake is now being filled with water. The two-storey facility building is also now structurally complete with internal fit-out work underway. Paul Owen, Chief Executive of the British Canoe Union commented ‘‘the Lee Valley White Water Centre is really taking shape, we are now seeing just how impressive the facility will be…the venue will be spectacular, a real show case for the sport’’.
The Velodrome has made incredible progress since the last edition of SportTalk with the huge cable-net roof now in place as well as the terraces, internal blockwork on the ground floor and under floor heating on the infield now finished. These advances keep the venue on track to be finished early 2011 making it the first venue on the Olympic Park to be completed. LVRPA Chief Executive Shaun Dawson said: “The Velodrome is rapidly becoming one of the stars of Olympic Park and while this stunning venue takes shape we’re planning a legacy programme which will excite the region and the country. After the Games we’ll be welcoming everyone from school children to local clubs to elite cyclists to the Velodrome – the centrepiece of the VeloPark.”
After the Games, a road cycle circuit and mountain bike course will be added to the Velodrome and BMX circuit to create a legacy VeloPark that will combine cycling facilities across all disciplines in one cycling ‘hub’.
Eton Manor is a Paralympic venue which will also offer essential training facilities for the Olympic Games and first-class sport and leisure opportunities in legacy. Initial groundwork for the venue began in the spring and work is now underway on building the permanent sporting facilities. Following the Games the Hockey Centre will host international competitions alongside a comprehensive community sports programme and the Tennis Centre will provide a tennis development programme for all levels targeting communities across the region. We have been working with the Tennis Foundation and national bodies to ensure our legacy programmes are aligned with national sports programming.
For more information email the Sports Development Team
Opportunity for schools to ride the white water for FREE before the Olympians
youths white water rafting
The countdown’s on…. Lee Valley White Water Centre is the only brand new London 2012 venue that will open before the Olympic Games – and your borough or district has the chance to select one school class to raft the rapids before the Olympians!
The Centre, just north of the M25 near Waltham Cross, Herts, will be owned and managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and we’ll ensure this world-class venue brings benefits to communities across the Region.
We open to the public before the Games in April 2011 delivering an early legacy for the whole country and will host an education festival at the Centre. The centre piece will be a free raft down the course for one class from each district or borough.
We’re offering each Local Education Authority (LEA) the opportunity to send a group of students to the festival free of charge. The festival will operate 10am-3pm on 27-29 June and 4-6 July 2011. Students will be able to take part in orienteering, canoe taster sessions and other outdoor activities and, of course, rafting the Olympic White Water Course with an experienced raft guide.
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority wants to make the opportunity available to all LEAs across London, Essex and Hertfordshire – the area which funds much of our work.
Please get in touch with your LEA or Ashley Bartlett. Your LEA will ultimately select the group and may consider:
- A school or college which has embraced the Olympic and Paralympic Games through the Get Set or Inspire programmes
- Made the biggest contribution/engagement with the local community
- The most improved school or one which has achieved another significant achievement
Or they may select a group comprising students from schools or colleges across their area.
All participants must be 14 years of age and above and each party can consist of up to 36 people.
If your class is not chosen for the free offer there are still many opportunities to visit the Lee Valley White Water Centre and take part in white water rafting and canoeing. The Park is currently finalising its programme of activity to start in April 2011.
Last year we presented to or hosted tours promoting the Lee Valley White Water Centre to nearly 3,000 people from a wide range of organisations, groups and clubs across the region, including school sports partnerships, community groups and clubs. This year to date there has been a marked increase in the level of interest in the centre, with over 2,700 people having booked tours and presentations.
Tottenham Hotspur FC, Lee Valley and Enfield Community Sports Partnership
community sports partnership launch
The YHA Lee Valley hosted the launch of a Community Sports and Physical Activity Partnership between Enfield Council, Tottenham Hotspur FC and Lee Valley Regional Park earlier this month. Tottenham have pledged £2.3 million of coaching hours over the next 10 years to deliver community programmes that will directly benefit the local residents of Enfield.
The funding is part of a Section 106 Agreement linked to Tottenham’s new state of the art training facility at Myddelton House, Enfield and will allow for a number of sports and education programmes aimed at engaging Enfield residents.
The programme gets underway with Olympic themed Health Walks guided by Tottenham coaches, and incorporating views of the Lee Valley White Water Centre. Walks take place throughout July and August and have been graded bronze, silver and gold reflecting their distance.
For more details on the walks contact the Sports Development Team
Youth and Schools new London 2012 education programmes
schools orienteering competition 2010
Our Youth and Schools programme offers a wide range of educational activity across the Lee Valley Regional Park for primary school, secondary schools, youth groups, special schools and groups with special needs.
With London 2012 just two years away it is the perfect time to engage students and educate them about the Games. To help do this Lee Valley Regional Park’s Youth and Schools team are offering new Olympic education programmes.
Utilising the opportunities provided by the Lee Valley White Water Centre the programmes will bring geography, biology, leisure and recreation studies to life. Lee Valley Regional Park can also provide exciting assembly sessions which use the power of white water to engage young people in the Games.
If you are interested in any of these programmes or require further information contact Youth and Schools
t: 08456 770 607
On Thursday 1 July schools from across the region were invited to participate in the LVRPA annual Regional Orienteering Competition. Led by the Youth and Schools team the event provided an opportunity for secondary and sixth form students to experience the beautiful River Lee Country Park while testing their navigation and teamwork skills. This year over 300 pupils participated in the event. A big well done to all those who took part.
For more information visit the Youth and Schools page.
The Park is committed to reaching out to regional partners across London, Essex and Hertfordshire and providing additional support in terms of partner objectives and priorities in particular access to sports activities and leading sports venues.
The Park is currently completing a partner audit across the region to identify new ways of working and areas in need of support.
Please take five minutes of your time to click on the link below and answer some questions to enable us to work more effectively with you. Any information you provide will be treated in confidence under the terms of the Data protection act (1998) and no details will be passed on to any third parties.
Short Survey
If you require additional information contact our Senior Sports Development Officer
i: Paul Coates
WaterWorks Golf Centre successfully awarded RangeMark award
We are delighted to announce that the WaterWorks Golf Centre has been successful in achieving the English Golf Union/English Women’s Golf Association RangeMark accreditation. The Centre is now nationally recognised by the EGU/EWGA and English Golf as a junior and beginner friendly facility.
The award reflects the fantastic work that goes on at the Centre, to find out more information on the programmes that run contact the WaterWorks Golf Centre
t: 020 8988 7566
Dereck Redmond, Lucy Nicholas and Shaun Dawson PRO-ACTIVE awards 2010
In April officers from Sports Development attended the PRO-ACTIVE London sports awards at the Oval cricket ground.
The Park sponsored two of the awards, Club of the Year, which was picked up by Richmond Volleyball Club and Young Volunteer of the Year, which went to Lucy Nicholas.
LVRPA Chief Executive Shaun Dawson announced the winners and presented their trophies together with Derek Redmond, European, Commonwealth and World Championship gold medallist in the 400m relay.
For more information about sports awards contact our Senior Sports Development Officer
i: Paul Coates
The next issue of SportTalk will be out in November 2010 when LVRPA will have ownership of our first 2012 venue, the Lee Valley White Water Centre. We hope you enjoy your summer.
Best wishes,
The Sports Development Team