The town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye will host Team GB athletes in the run-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, after the city agreed a partnership with the British Olympic Association.
The official Preparation Camp signing activity took place today (28 April, 2022) with BOA Chair, Sir Hugh Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, Andy Anson, and Mayor of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Arnaud Pericard, all in attendance.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic weightlifting silver medalist, Emily Campbell, also joined the Team GB delegation in Saint-Germain-en-Laye and was able to get an early look at the facilities she will hope to use for pre-Games training in just over two years’ time.
Chosen for its world-leading venues, the town is well-known, not only for its history as a royal seat and its exceptional natural surroundings, but also as the birthplace and base of the Paris-Saint-Germain football club.
Team GB athletes from athletics, football, hockey, rugby sevens and weightlifting will use facilities in the town, including the Georges-Lefèvre Stadium sports complex, with its soon-to-be renovated athletics track.
The signing took place at the town hall following a tour of Camp de Loges – the current training ground of Paris Saint-Germain Football Club.
Ideally located just a short journey away from the Olympic Village in Saint-Denis, Camp de Loges, Stade Municipal Georges Lefèvre and the Piscine Le Dome Saint Germain are all best-in-class facilities for international athletes.
Arnaud Pericard, Mayor of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, said: “Saint-Germain-en-Laye has been chosen by Team GB, one of the top Olympic delegations, thanks to its top-quality sporting installations, proximity to Paris, and the quality of life it offers. The younger generation of Saint-Germain citizens, generation 2024, will be able to observe top-level athletes up close, talk to them and undoubtedly make progress in their sporting discipline.”
Sir Hugh Robertson said: “It is a great pleasure to be here in Saint-Germain-en-Laye to announce our Preparation Camp for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. We are looking forward to a close working relationship with all of our local partners and friends here in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, as we start to finalise our plans for the Games in 2024.”
Andy Anson added: “We believe we have found the best possible environment for our athletes to prepare in for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and I’d personally like to thank our friends in Saint-Germain-en-Laye for their commitment to understanding and meeting our needs.
“From our experience in Tokyo, we know the value in providing world-class training venues for our athletes and, once again, being so close to the Olympic Village and Paris itself will be a real performance advantage come Games-time.”
The agreement includes a commitment by all parties to create a programme for exchanging cultural experiences and expertise to help ensure a lasting legacy of international sporting presence for the region.
