News

London Bid to Host Olympics Supported by Durham Students

(18 February 2005)

Durham students join Paralympic sprinter Hazel Robson at Graham’s Sports Centre at Maiden Castle to support the North East backing of London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

By signing a version of the Olympic flag Ms Robson, the students, and staff of the sports centre, marked their commitment to the bid.

Ms Robson said, “Hosting the Olympics here in 2012 would be great news for the country and the region and I fully support the bid. It would go a long way to helping us here in the North East create and build a long lasting sporting legacy for future sporting stars. From a personal point of view, I would like to retire on home ground and 2012 would be the most likely time to do it.”

The flag had already been signed by several other sporting heroes at the recent North East Sports Awards, including Newcastle Falcon star and England International Matthew Tait, Brendan Foster and 2004 Paralympic gold medallist Stephen Miller.

Later this month, the flag will be touring other parts of the region to be signed by other Olympic athletes such as Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Steve Cram and Chris Cook, where after it will be presented to the International Olympic Committee. (IOC)

Reported by The Northern Echo on 17th February 2005 www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk