Team Ipswich has stepped up its campaign to bring an Olympic training team to the town by rolling out a comprehensive marketing service for its partners who run sports facilities in the area.
Ipswich's Sports Ambassador, swimming legend Karen Pickering, has written to all 21 venues, including the seven who have been "approved" by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), to explain the next steps in the Team Ipswich strategy.
Team Ipswich was founded by the Borough Council to market Ipswich and the surrounding area to the world's Olympic organising committees and also to boost sport in the community and so raise fitness levels across all age ranges.
It was the first organisation in the East of England region to develop this approach and to bring together local authorities, Police, health organisations and the private sector to deliver a co-ordinated service. Initiatives such as "Jumpers for Goalposts" have revitalised community sport and cut anti-social behaviour while elite and intermediary squads have helped youngsters pursue their sporting goals.
Last week, LOCOG announced that seven sporting facilities in the Ipswich area would be included in the national guide being circulated at the Beijing Games this summer. All seven signed up with Team Ipswich last year and will be part of a comprehensive international strategy to bring training teams here.
Karen Pickering and Ipswich Borough Council's leisure portfolio-holder, Councillor Judy Terry, have written to the venues, congratulating the seven on their success but also offering to help market the other 14 as well in a bid to establish Ipswich as a training hub for the Olympics and Paralympics.
The seven successful venues are: Ipswich Gymnastics Centre, the Team Ipswich Northgate Sports Centre, Ipswich Town FC, Alton Water, Felixstowe Tennis Club, Bentwaters Park and Otley College.
Councillor Terry said: "There is massive potential here not only for sport but for cultural links. Ipswich is planning to exploit its unique position in Suffolk - not only its proximity to the 2012 Games site but also its role as community leader, with more than 70 languages spoken here. We took a bold step to create Team Ipswich and to appoint a sporting ambassador but this is now paying dividends. We have so much to offer training teams and I am sure everyone will get behind whichever team or teams decide to come here. We are also grateful for the important support of the business community which has given a real boost to Team Ipswich."
Chair of Team Ipswich is Ian Twinley, Chairman of John Grose. He said: "This is a big step for Ipswich but one we will take - and complete - for we are determined to leave a strong legacy here in Ipswich which will last for many generations. As a major Suffolk business, John Grose is proud to support Team Ipswich and the emerging athletes in the town. We owe it not only to them but to all the youngsters who dream of becoming Olympic stars to succeed. Team Ipswich has a clear vision and will do everything it can to bring training teams to the town and to play our full part in the preparations of 2012."