(Image: )The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) is providing the opportunity for Olympic and Paralympic teams to apply for up to £26,000 each towards the cost of attending preparation camps in the UK - an investment worth £9m. The purpose of the Scheme is to enable more teams to prepare for the Games in approved facilities in the UK, in an effort to spread the benefits to towns and cities around the Country.

In response to the launch of this scheme, Energize Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin appointed Knight, Kavanagh & Page (KKP) in December 2006 to map out its strategic approach to the provision of performance and events related sports and physical activity facilities in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin (STW). The aim of the study was to assess the availability of facilities within the area and identify possible areas for development.

The study was commissioned to support the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin 2012 aspiration to

"use the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a means of identifying facilities and partners within Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin capable of hosting significant NGB sporting events (including pre Games training camps) which could then contribute to a regional event strategy."

The Olympic Games have much significance for Shropshire as Much Wenlock is the birthplace of William Penny Brookes, founding father of the Modern Olympic Games.

KKP consulted with national governing bodies of sport (NGBs) of the 31 Sport England development sports and other Olympic sports to identify the extent of interest in utilising and developing such provision in the region. Facilities strategies were also reviewed together with information found in the Active Places facilities database.

Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin (STW) could be attractive proposition for hosting sporting events due to its excellent motorway access and the presence and status of the flagship Lilleshall National Sport Centre.

KKP's report identified the extent of interest of each sport, existing facilities that have the potential to be developed, opportunities for new facility provision and possible funding sources.

The most significant opportunities for STW to develop new build facilities of regional significance (both relevant to London 2012 and for other sports) would be:

• Netball - opportunity to develop a regional netball centre, in the form of a double court sports hall with spectator seating.
• Cycling - the natural landscape would be ideal for the development of a national standard BMX track
• Indoor bowls - There is no indoor bowls facility in STW at present and yet there is unmet demand in the West Midlands as a whole. A six rink facility, planned for Shrewsbury Sports Village provides an ideal opportunity for hosting events.

Advantage West Midlands is now conducting an regional economic appraisal, based upon report findings, to confirm future actions.

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