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British
Judo unveil plans for a Performance Institute
The British
Judo Association has unveiled ambitious plans for a British Judo
Performance Institute to be based in Dartford, Kent.
If sufficient
funds are raised for the capital project, the Institute will be
housed in a £5 million extension to the existing Dartford Judo
Club, one of the best dedicated dojos in Great Britain.
The facilities
in the Institute will include not only access to the two existing
full mat areas, but an additional small matted room for focused
coaching and sport science work, a high performance gym and rehab
area, a coach planning facility, a performance analysis suite,
medical consultation and treatment rooms and staff offices.
Dartford Borough Council
has pledged support and will provide land to the value of £1.5m,
and contribute to the cost of consultants and architect fees.
As one of the few sports
not to have a dedicated performance space, the plans for an Institute
are viewed as being vital to the success of British Judo as they
head towards London 2012 and beyond. The Institute will
mirror some of the centralised training facilities, which have
been established in France and Japan; two countries that consistently
achieve significant medal tallies at the Olympic Games and World
Championships.
After reviewing a number
of facilities across the United Kingdom, Dartford Judo Club was
chosen as the favoured site due to ability to build a bespoke
and exclusive facility, the opportunities for partnership with
Dartford Borough Council, as well as the existing facilities within
Dartford Judo Club. The location for access to high numbers
of training partners, accommodation opportunities and links with
local academic institutions were also taken into consideration.
British Judo believes
that the Institute will revolutionise the British Judo’s performance
environment and enable every member of the British Judo performance
team to work effectively and in a truly interdisciplinary manner.
Once built the Institute
will be the base for a number of athletes on a residential basis
as well as the venue for day training and squad training camps.
It will also link into a number of key performance centres located
within the Home Countries, and allow for high level collaboration
and exchange of judo specific knowledge in the areas of coaching,
sports science, sports medical, talent identification and talent
developments.
Karen Roberts, World
Class Operations Manager said, “The Mission 2012 initiative created
by UK Sport ahead of London 2012 and Glasgow 2014, has provided
a catalyst to create a Performance System, which will underpin
the World Class Programme of British Judo not only for these two
major events, but for years to come in the future. The British
Judo Performance Institute will be a hub of expertise within the
system that can be drawn upon by all Performance athletes and
coaches. We have all seen the success of British Teams in sports
such as Rowing, Cycling, Sailing, and in the last 6 months Boxing,
who have benefited from having a focused, centralised Performance
Environment- it is a very exciting prospect for the future of
High Performance Judo in the UK."
Margaret Hicks, Director
of World Class Programmes said, “British Judo is at a critical
point in establishing a Performance Institute, and essential to
developing a specialist facility is the securing of capital funding.
We have excellent partners in Dartford Judo Club and Dartford
Borough Council who have a real willingness and desire to work
with us and make this happen”.
“To have all of our
expert coaching, sport science and sports medical expertise regularly
working together out of one performance site will help develop
a system which is world class and provide the best possible support
for players, coaches and other support staff working across the
whole British Judo performance network. Working closely
with our funding organisation UK Sport, the new funding cycle
leading into London 2012 offers enormous opportunity for judo
to meet its aspirations”, she added.
Scott Walker, UK Sport
Performance Programme Consultant said, “Clearly it will be a great
advantage for our leading Judo players to have a dedicated institute
incorporating cutting edge facilities. British Judo’s plans have
put the athlete and coach’s needs firmly at the heart of the proposals
and it could have a significant effect on the potential of the
sport as we head towards London 2012 and beyond".
Jeremy Kite, Leader
of Dartford Borough Council, said,“Dartford Judo Club has become
a beacon for elite players since the new dojo was created by Dartford
Borough Council in 2006. Adding the National Performance centre
to the campus makes perfect sense and it opens up great opportunities
for the local community as well as some of the best judo players
in the world. In the run up to the 2012 games it will be great
to think of Dartford as ‘judo town’.
Dartford’s location
links London and Europe whilst offering connections to the rest
of the UK’s major cities and close proximity to the 2012 Olympic
Games site and the Judo venue at the Excel Centre in East London.
Local services are second to none, ensuring competitors can concentrate
on their sport without distraction.”
Alan Roberts, Head Coach
of Dartford Judo Club said, “Dartford Judo Club will be very pleased
to enter into this partnership with the British Judo Association.
All levels of our own membership will benefit from this great
opportunity, enjoying much greater access to higher levels of
training, coaching and facilities, and a feeling of really being
part of the build up to 2012 and beyond.'
Media Contact:
Emma Griffin
(t) 07875 368495
(e) emmagriffin@britishjudo.org.uk
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