British Wheelchair Basketball announces Elite Training Centre move
The preferred partner for the training hub of the GB wheelchair basketball performance teams has been announced with a potential move north to the English Institute of Sport Sheffield, operated by SIV, from September 2017.
British Wheelchair Basketball’s Elite Training Centre is the base for the NGB’s innovative National Lottery funded centralised training programme. Following both GB teams’ outstanding success at the Rio Paralympics, the new Elite Training Centre will be crucial in underpinning their journey to achieve podium positions in Tokyo 2020.
The centralised programme is at the heart of the Tokyo Strategy as the primary facilitator for world-class performance and aspirational destination for young talented athletes.
Commenting on the announcement, British Wheelchair Basketball Independent Board Member Michelle Leavesley said:
“The decision to move to Sheffield was unanimous – the review panel members agreed that the Sheffield proposal presented the strongest opportunity to deliver success at Tokyo in 2020. The decision to move was made following a rigorous and independently monitored process, completed in consultation with UK Sport.”
British Wheelchair Basketball, Performance Director, Paul Davies, echoed Michelle’s sentiment and added:
“Sheffield presents real opportunities for both teams during the Tokyo cycle. We have medal aspirations for the next Paralympics and our Elite Training Centre will be crucial to delivering this success.
“The facilities and support services available from the English Institute of Sport and Sheffield more widely are world-class and demonstrate the investment made in them. We will be co-located with other performance teams, which can only benefit our sport, as well as having direct contact with Sheffield’s elite sport science teams.”
British Wheelchair Basketball, Chief Executive, Charlie Bethel concludes:
“The relationship with our Elite Training Centre partner is critical to the long term success of our performance teams. We are excited about the prospect of moving forward with SIV and realising the full potential of centralised world-class programmes. We are in no doubt that the performance model that British Wheelchair Basketball is developing will establish the foundations for wheelchair basketball national squad training worldwide.”
Lorenzo Clark, Director of Operations for SIV believes that the relocation of the Elite Training Centre will complement the Institute of Sport’s existing performance portfolio and commented:
“We look forward to welcoming British Wheelchair Basketball and its Elite Training Centre to Sheffield. We can offer British Wheelchair Basketball a strong partnership to support their performance needs for a successful future.”
British Wheelchair Basketball is now entering into discussions with SIV to confirm the terms of the Elite Training Centre move to the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield, which is scheduled to relocate in September 2017.
