Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, visited the University of Bath Sports Training Village today (Wednesday) to open a new £1 million sports science laboratory and a national conference.

Lord Coe opened the biomechanics facility, which will be used to study how the human body moves with the goal of improving performance and preventing injury.

The facility will further develop the University’s sport and exercise science expertise.He also addressed the annual British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences conference, which is being held at the University. Some 500 delegates are attending the conference.

Speaking at the opening of the biomechanics laboratory, Lord Coe said: “It gives me great pleasure to open these fantastic new facilities today. As a former athlete, I know just how important that extra hundredth of a second can be and the facilities here will enable athletes to develop and hone their technique.

“Sports laboratories such as this will enable them to be at the top of their game.

“It’s very gratifying to go around the country and come to centres of excellence like that are at the cutting edge of delivering medals,” he added. “The standard of coaching and critical mass of expertise at Bath is almost unmatched anywhere in the world.”

Professor George Lunt, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bath, said: “There are tremendous synergies to be gained from better integration of top class academic research with world class coaching and training facilities.”
Ged Roddy, Director of Sport at the University of Bath, said: “It was great to have Lord Coe here today. We’ve got a wonderful facility here that will serve our athletes and our sports scientists well.

“The task our country will face in the run-up to 2012 will be to bring our sports scientists, medics and coaches together to provide support for our athletes,” he added. “We are in a good place to do that with what we’ve developed in Bath.”

For further information on Lord Coe’s visit, click here.

Members of the media can contact the Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd for further information on 01225 383518. 

Posted: Wednesday 12th September 2007