A school ands two sports centres to host 2012 athletes’ training

EAST Ham’s Langdon School and two sports venues in Newham are to have a share of �10m being made available to bring them up to scratch as training venues for the 2012 Olympics.

The school, along with the Terence McMillan Stadium in Plaistow and the proposed Eton Manor centre within the Olympic Park at Stratford, are among the first raft of 16 venues to win funding.

A dozen more will be named before the end of the year.

The training venues will be used by athletes from more than 200 countries to help them prepare before and during the Games.

Athletes will use the sport-specific facilities from mid-July 2012 when they move into the Athletes’ Village at Stratford.

LOCOG Chair Seb Coe said upgrading the venues is a “tangible benefit” of the Games because the improved facilities will be available for use afterwards by local communities.

ODA Chairman John Armitt said: “A strong part of our bid to stage the Games was about leaving a lasting legacy in London. By investing in existing facilities where possible, the best value for the taxpayer has been secured in addition to sports provision being significantly improved across the area.”

Langdon will host Taekwondo while Eton Manor will be available to swimmers and wheelchair tennis with Terence McMillan stadium look after athletics.