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Sheffield's Olympic send off

24 July 2008

Sheffield’s Beijing-bound athletes and support staff have gathered in the city for a special Olympic send off event.

Boxer Amir Khan made a guest appearance at the English Institute of Sport - Sheffield (EIS Sheffield) to help celebrate the city's sporting talent and wish the team good luck in the Olympic Games.

A team of 25 support staff and athletes who use the state-of-the-art facilities at EIS Sheffield and Ponds Forge, and access services at the EIS Support Centre will be flying the Sheffield flag in China.

Boxers Bradley Saunders, David Price, James DeGale, Joe Murray, Khalid Yafai and Tony Jefferies warmed up for the event with a demonstration of skills in the ring in the Combat Hall.

They were joined at the send off event by Sheffield divers Ben Swaine, Nick Robinson-Baker and Hayley Sage and Barnsley swimmer James Kirton.

Paul Goodison (sailing), Sue Gilroy (table tennis) and Troye Collins (wheelchair rugby) are amongst the other Sheffield-based medal hopefuls heading to Beijing this summer.

Amir Khan said: "Seeing the team getting their send off brings back memories of when I was getting ready to go to Athens in 2004. I was the only British boxer at those Olympics, but these lads have each other for encouragement.

"It's an incredibly strong team and each one of them can do well and come back with a medal and I think they'll do well."

James Kirton, 23, who will be competing in the 200m Breaststroke, said: "I'm really looking forward to the Games. There isn't long to go now and we're all starting to get excited.

"It will be my first Olympic Games so I can't wait to get out there and do my very best. I'm going there with no expectations of what I can achieve. I'm just going to go there and do my best and hopefully that will be a medal place.

Steve Brailey, chief executive of Sheffield International Venues (SIV), which manages EIS Sheffield and Ponds Forge, said: "We are very proud of all of the athletes and it's not just about those who train at EIS Sheffield, Ponds Forge and Don Valley, but the support staff, who work incredibly hard to help make Sheffield's team an Olympic success.

"On behalf of everyone at SIV and Sheffield City Council we wish them the best of luck." 

Categories: EIS, Sheffield International Venues, Ponds Forge