Olympic Canoeing Legacy Takes Shape
The scene of Team GB’s canoe slalom success from last summer’s Olympic Games has seen the completion of the first phase of £6.3 million post-Games development work.
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Maria Miller, officially opened the new pavilion at Lee Valley White Water Centre, where Etienne Stott and Tim Baillie won their gold medal.
Benefitting from £870,000 of National Lottery funding from Sport England, the new pavilion overlooks the Olympic course and features an outdoor classroom, additional catering facilities and extra space for shade and shelter.
Opening the pavilion during the centre’s third annual schools festival, Maria Miller said: ‘Nearly a year on, the Lee Valley Water Centre is a fantastic example of the London 2012 legacy in action, and the extra investment will make it an even better venue.’
‘The Centre was a huge success last summer for Team GB, and today young people are getting the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of our inspiring British athletes, competing at the same venue in the schools festival.’
‘The centre will continue to inspire future generations of athletes as part of the Olympic legacy and we’ll see the elite athletes back here for the 2015 Canoe Slalom World Championships.’
Charles Johnston, property director at Sport England, added: ‘The popularity of Lee Valley White Water Centre has continued to grow beyond all our expectations. The chance to paddle down the same course as Olympic gold medallists has inspired tens of thousands of people to try out canoeing, keeping the magic of London 2012 alive.’
‘I am delighted that the work being carried out at the centre will make this possible, allowing even more people of all abilities to try out this sport in a world class facility.’
There to watch the next generation of paddlers take to the water and see the Olympic legacy in action were Olympic gold medallists Etienne Stott and Tim Baillie.
Tim said: ‘The memories of the London 2012 Games will never leave us and it’s great to see so many young people coming to Lee Valley White Water Centre and taking to the same water where we achieved our win.’
‘We hope that we can inspire more young people to take up paddle sport and having these facilities can help to unearth the sport’s future champions.’
Since opening, Lee Valley White Water Centre has attracted nearly 200,000 visitors with 46,000 people having rafted at the centre and over 16,000 participants have tried canoeing or kayaking.
