London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012 Training & Preparation Facilities - Dublin, irelanD
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London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012 Training & Preparation Facilities Dublin, Ireland
“ The National Aquatic Centre is a World-Class facility and ideal as a training base for Olympic and Paralympic Teams in the lead up to the 2012 Games in London. ” Mr Martin Cullen, TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
For me the Olympic and Paralympic Games have always been special. Some of
my earliest sporting memories will forever be associated with what is possibly the
World’s greatest festival of sport.
Amongst my special memories is the sight of my fellow Waterford man, John
Treacy, entering the Olympic Stadium in Los Angeles in 1984 to take the silver
medal in the marathon. A fantastic achievement.
And then I was lucky enough to attend the Olympic Games in Beijing last year where three of our
boxers won Olympic medals. What a wonderful achievement and an inspiration to all of us.
Ireland has, of course, had a close relationship with the Olympics since the modern Olympics were
re-constituted in 1896. Many medals have been won down through the years by Irish men and
women.
Off the field our small nation has made an equally large contribution with Lord Killanin becoming
head of the Olympic movement worldwide. More recently Patrick Hickey has continued the great
tradition, assuming his position as President of the European Olympic Committees.
I believe the creation of the National Aquatic Centre has afforded us the opportunity to add another
chapter to our Olympic history.
While created as a World-Class facility to allow our own swimmers to reach their full potential I
believe that the decision of the National Sports Campus Development Authority to reach out and
encourage other nations to utilise the facilities is totally in keeping with the spirit of the Olympics.
They are to be commended.
I hope that they will be successful and that you and your country’s swimmers will consider basing
your final training camp here in Dublin.
On behalf of all Irish people I can say you will be very welcome – and you can be assured that you
will experience the warmth of that welcome at all times.
The National Aquatic Centre is a World-Class facility. I encourage you to come and see for yourself.
You will not be disappointed.
Mr Martin Cullen, TD,
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
“Over the years I have been immensely proud “The Olympic Games really are special. I have
to represent Ireland on the International Olym- been lucky enough to compete in four Games. I
pic Committee. For a small nation we are hugely am particularly looking forward to the 2012 Games
respected for the contribution we have made and which are so close to Ireland in London.
which we continue to make to the world of sport.
Those final weeks of preparation for the Games are
Given that contribution it always saddened me that so important. Athletes need first class facilities and
our best and brightest sports men and women had need to have absolute peace of mind.
in many cases to base themselves outside Ireland
I have no doubt that anyone deciding to base
in order to train and to reach their potential. That
themselves in Dublin will find that they are in the
is no longer the case for our swimmers for in the
ideal location for their final preparations.
National Aquatic Centre we have a genuine World-
Class FINA facility. I believe the National Aquatic Centre is world class
and I have no doubt that it provides exactly the right
I would encourage other nations to consider
facilities and location for any athlete participating
basing their Olympic and Paralympic 2012 Aquatic
in aquatic disciplines in the London Olympic and
Swimming, Diving, Water Polo and Synchronised
Paralympic Games.”
Swimming preparations here in Dublin. The National
Aquatic Centre is a wonderful facility.” J ohn Treacy
Olympic Silver Medallist 1984
atrick Hickey
P CEO, Irish Sports Council and Director,
President, European Olympic Committees National Aquatic Centre
and Board Member, National Sports
Campus Development Authority
“The National Aquatic Centre was one of the key “Performance in the Paralympic Games requires top
facilities for the 2003 Special Olympics World class preparation in top-class facilities. In Dublin’s
Games which was held in Ireland. In the same year National Aquatic Centre, Ireland’s swimmers have had
the Centre hosted the European Short Course one of the best aquatics facilities in the world available
Championships, over 10 European records were to them. Indeed, the Irish Paralympic Swim Team have
broken. Constructed specially for those Games it is used the National Aquatic Centre as their training base
a World-Class FINA facility that matches anywhere since it opened in 2003. I would highly recommend the
in the world. I believe it provides a wonderful base facility to any Paralympic swim team looking to have
for any team in their final preparation for the 2012 a training base near London in advance of the 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. Anyone Paralympic Games.”
who decides to base themselves here can be assured
Liam Harbison
of a typically warm Irish welcome.”
Secretary General, Paralympic Council of Ireland
ary Davis
M Chef de Mission, 2012 Irish Paralympic Team
Managing Director,
Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia
Director, National Aquatic Centre
“ I have trained all over the world and I would rank the National
Aquatic Centre in Dublin up there with the best. I would have
no hesitation in recommending the Centre to any team as a
competition and training venue as part of their preparations
for the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics. ”
Andrew Bree, Irish Olympic Swimmer, 2000 & 2008
The National Aquatic Centre is the
national facility for the training of
Ireland’s high performance swimmers
and is a host venue for numerous
international, national and local
competitions.
The National Aquatic Centre in Dublin is gener- The diving pool (25m x 16.5m x 5m) is of FINA
ally acknowledged to be one of the finest facili- approved Olympic standard with a range of
ties of its kind anywhere in Europe. Platform and Spring Boards from 3m to 10m.
Originally built in 2003 to host the swimming Fully equipped Gym Facilities, Sauna, Steam
events for the 2003 Special Olympics World Room, Jacuzzi and Omega Timing System.
Summer Games, it subsequently hosted the
The pool has seating for 2,500 spectators and
European Short Course Championships in
The National December 2003.
it is also equipped with the latest anti-doping,
marshalling areas, scoring facilities and accessi-
Aquatic Centre Today, it is the National Facility for the training bility compliance to British standards. It truly is
of Ireland’s High Performance Swimmers. It is a an international facility.
host venue for numerous International, National
Today, the National Aquatic Centre is under the
and local competitions and has hosted a number
control of the National Sports Campus Develop-
of events sanctioned by the International Paral-
ment Authority, a Government Agency.
ympic Committee (IPC).
Located at Abbotstown, the National Aquatic
Since its opening in 2003, it has played host
Centre is only 8km from Dublin Airport and
to the Irish Long Course Championships every
is within 20 minutes travel from Dublin city
year. In 2008, it was the location for Ireland’s
centre.
pre Olympic trials and also the venue for pre
Olympic qualification for Irish swimmers going The National Aquatic Centre has linked up with
to Beijing. two dedicated partner hotels within 2km of the
Centre to provide first-class accommodation for
At the heart of the facility is a FINA approved
visiting athletes.
Olympic standard 10 lane 50m pool (50m x 25m
x 2.4m). Full details of all the facilities at the National
Aquatic Centre can be accessed at: www.nac.ie
That pool, which can be split into three 25m
pools for training purposes, also has a moveable
floor as does the specialist diving pool.
While the facilities at the National Aquatic Both hotels can provide secure team floors,
Centre are of paramount importance to teams team common rooms and a private dining area.
thinking of locating there, the other non-aquatic The hotels will be delighted to work with team
facilities are equally important. The Centre has chefs on menus for the athletes.
partnered with two four-star deluxe hotels with-
A free shuttle bus service will ensure that
in 2km of the Centre itself in order to provide
athletes can be taken to and from the National
top class accommodation and dining facilities
Other Facilities for teams deciding to locate in Dublin.
Aquatic Centre as required.
Both hotels and the National Aquatic Centre
The two partner hotels are:
are in the thriving Abbotstown/Blanchardstown
• The Dublin West Crown Plaza Hotel 4 star area where there are first class theatre, restau-
has 188 top class bedrooms and suites with rants, cinema and entertainment venues – for
12 meeting rooms and conference facilities. any free time which the teams may have. The
It is part of the Inter Continental group of Abbotsown/Blanchardstown areas are within
Hotels. 20 minutes travel from Dublin city centre where
again many different activities can be organised
• The Park Plaza Hotel 4 star at Tyrellstown
for visiting teams.
is 2km from the National Aquatic Centre.
It has 155 excellent rooms with 11 meeting
rooms and a conference room. It is part of
the Carlson Hospitality group of Hotels.
The National Aquatic Centre has partnered
with two four-star deluxe hotels within 2kms
of the Centre itself in order to provide top
class accommodation and dining facilities
for teams deciding to locate in Dublin.
There are numerous daily flights The National Aquatic Centre works closely
between Dublin and London. It is the busi- with the Dublin Airport Authority.
est route served by Dublin Airport.
Visiting teams can be assured that they will
Aer Lingus, BMI, British Airways, Air be given VIP treatment coming through
France/Cityjet and Ryanair all fly to and the airport and leaving for London.
from London.
Travelling Dublin can also be accessed directly from
to and from the USA and via all the main European
hubs such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Flight time
Dublin Paris. 45 minutes
Dublin
40 flights daily
London
40 flights in and out of Dublin
on a daily basis to London.
The National Aquatic Centre is
strategically placed adjacent to the
M50 - Dublin’s main motorway artery,
making the airport easily accessible. 8km
from Dublin Airport
8kms from Dublin Airport and
less than 20 minutes from Dublin
City Centre.50
FINA approved
National Aquatic Centre by numbers
metre pool
10m
diving platform
FINA approved Olympic standard
10m diving platform 25m x 16.5m x
5m with inter dedicated diving pool.
Also 3m, 5m and 7.5m platforms.
FINA approved 50m x 25m x 2.4m
Olympic standard 10 lane pool
which can be split into three 25m
pools all with removable floors.
8
strategic partners
Eight strategic partners are backing the National
Aquatic Centre and its proposal to invite other
countries to locate their training facilities in Dublin
for 2012 Olympic games. Those bodies include the
Irish Government, the Irish Sports Council, the
Olympic Council of Ireland, the Paralympic Council
of Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Swim Ireland, Fingal
County Council and the National Sports Campus
Development Authority.
2
Other facilities at the
National Aquatic Centre
include: Two partner hotels
(The Crowne Plaza
• Restaurant Hotel and The
• Gym Facilities Park Plaza Hotel)
providing almost
• Sauna 350 rooms, 23
• Anti-Doping Facilities meeting rooms,
• Massage Area. team floors and
team common partner hotels
rooms.“ For myself, I always write about Dublin, because if I can get to the heart of Dublin I can get to the heart of all the cities of the world. In the particular is contained the universal. ” James Joyce
To James Joyce, Ireland’s most famous author, Dublin is a young city, in fact one of the world’s
the city of Dublin and its people were an obses- most youthful cities with an estimated 50% of
sion. Even when he moved to Paris, it was so the population under 25 years old. Over the
indelibly printed on his brain that he was able to last 20 years the city has most definitely raced
recall every last aspect of it in great detail. It is into the 21st century, and while much of the old
that kind of city. remains, it is also now a city of not only old pubs
but modern bars, thriving markets and malls
Dublin City While the city of James Joyce may have changed
a great deal over the last few decades, much
and trendy cafes.
remains the same. It is still a friendly city to Dublin has also been described as Western
explore and enjoy – and there is so much to Europe’s most intimate capital city, a city that
enjoy. offers music, art, literature and a wonderful
night life.
Recently, one of the official guides to Ireland
put it very well when it said “Walking across the Perhaps a world away from the quieter
city centre on a leisurely stroll you encounter surrounds of Abbotstown but nevertheless only
Celtic crosses, Georgian fanlights, James Joyce 20 minutes away, and a city well deserving of
handwritten manuscripts and Renoir canvases exploration on any days off.
...You have pleasant encounters, pass many
pubs and everywhere you go hear the lovely lilt
Dublin is packed full of things
of the Irish accent”.
to do! Explore our National
Museums, examine an original
Caravaggio in the National
Gallery, enjoy the ‘cráic’ in our
world famous pubs or simply
soak up the atmosphere of a
truly cosmopolitan city.“ I would urge any Olympic and Paralympic team to consider the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin as the place to base their final training camp. ” Patrick Hickey, President, European Olympic Committees
So why choose the National Aquatic Centre?
• Dublin is less than an hour away from London.
• Dublin has easy access from all parts of the world.
• The National Aquatic Centre’s facilities are FINA standard:
- 50m pool (10 lane 50m x 25m x 2.4m)
- Diving platform (25m x 16.5m x 5m).
• Ability to host your full Olympic Aquatic squad:
- Swimming
- Diving
- Synchronised Swimming
- Waterpolo.
• A large modern gym is available on site.
• A dedicated Liaison Officer will be provided to each team.
• Outdoor Training Facilities are also available on site.
• There is easy access to Sports, Science
and Medical Facilities.
• Excellent Accommodation.
• The National Aquatic Centre has the full support of the
Irish Government, the Irish Sports Council, the Olympic
Council of Ireland, the Paralympic Council of Ireland,
Swim Ireland and Fingal County Council.
For further information on all aspects of this proposal please contact:
Teifion Williams David Conway Robbie Whelan
General Manager Development Manager Marketing Manager
National Aquatic Centre National Sports Campus National Aquatic Centre
Development Authority
Tel: +353 1 646 4305 Tel: +353 1 646 4310
Mob: +353 86 805 7097 Tel: +353 1 809 7300 Mob: +353 86 042 9873
Email: twilliams@nac.ie Email: dconway@nscda.ie Email: robbiewhelan@nac.ie
National Aquatic Centre, Snugborough Road, Abbotstown, Dublin 15
www.nac.ieYou can also read
