ISLAND sports are being urged to use their contacts to encourage Olympic teams to prepare in Jersey after seven sites were listed in the London 2012 Organising Committee’s pre-Games training camp guide.

The venues included in the guide, which will be published at the end of the Beijing Olympics this year, lists the following as available in Jersey: Fort Regent (fencing, taekwondo, indoor volleyball), Geoff Reed Table Tennis Centre, Jersey Athletics track, Leonis Boxing Club, New Gilson Hall (badminton), Oakfield Sports Centre (indoor volleyball), St Helier Yacht Club.

‘I’m delighted that so many venues have been successful,’ said assistant director of Education, Sport and Culture, Derek de la Haye. ‘We’ve taken the first step but it’s nice to be recognised as having the facilities suitable to accommodate top athletes.

‘If that turns into one or more teams coming over then that’s fantastic – it’s another exciting step towards the Olympic Games.’

The process for inclusion in the guide, in which Jersey are named in the South East region, began around 18 months ago. Suitable locations which matched the criteria were then submitted for consideration.

‘The only sports we weren’t successful with were shooting, but that’s very political with the number of guns, and aquatics, which we expected as we only have a 25m pool and we thought they would be looking for a 50m.

‘Les Quennevais we didn’t submit as it’s far more difficult to use than the likes of Fort Regent where you can section off a dedicated area.

‘There are no financial implications, either way, and we’ve got no idea at all whether a team will choose to come here. I think if we get anybody it’s likely to be one of the smaller nations who might be represented in two or three sports.

‘If they did come here it would raise the profile of the sport locally, it would mean the sport themselves becomes more involved in the Olympic Games and it would also raise the profile of Jersey as a sporting destination.

‘We are only one hour away from London and a big part of it is being close to, but not at the same place as the Games. I think Jersey has very good facilities, backed up by accommodation and geographically you don’t have to go far to get around.

‘We’ve also demonstrated we can host things like this and we have a safe and welcoming community who would really get behind and support this.’

Although there is still work to do before the guide is handed out, de la Haye added that he will be calling on sports to use their contacts to encourage teams to Jersey.

‘I will say to the sports, for example table tennis who have just been at the World Team Championship and no doubt making contacts, to speak to teams and see if they would like to come here.’

Tessa Jowell, Olympics Minister, said: ‘The strength and diversity of our sporting infrastructure is demonstrated by so many high quality facilities having met the strict criteria to be included in this guide. This is a real opportunity for communities across the UK to capitalise on the benefits that hosting 2012 offers.

‘There are no guarantees of success just by making it into the guide. There will be fierce competition to host foreign teams and individuals, and now it is for every nation and region, every venue, to sell itself internationally.’

Guernsey was also successful in making the list, with five venues listed: Rohais Hall (badminton), Foote’s Lane (athletics), Guernsey Table Tennis Centre at La Hougue du Pommier, Guernsey Yacht Club and Bowmen of Guernsey Archery Club, affiliated to Rovers AC at Port Soif.