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by Keyan Milanian

Senior officials of China’s Olympic committee have visited Medway.

The Medway Messenger recently revealed 42 Paralympic and Olympic teams had contacted bosses at the new Medway Park, the revamped Black Lion Leisure Centre, in Gillingham.

The park is under development with an eight-lane International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) certified track already laid.

The latest visit was from Madam Xiao Min, vice-president of the Chinese Olympic committee, who headed up a delegation of Chinese officials who came to discuss training camps for 2012, as well as wider sporting, educational and tourism links.

The visit was hosted by Medway Council, the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and Tourism South East.

It was coordinated by the Anglo-Chinese Sports and Culture Association, who were keen to promote traditional Chinese sports.

Madam Xiao Min was accompanied by senior representatives from the China States Sports Administration and a sporting professor from a leading Chinese university.

The delegation, which included the Mayor of Medway, Cllr David Royle, received presentations on Medway’s 2012 campaign and sporting facilities.
The visitors were then shown the Universities at Medway campus and Jumpers Rebound Centre, in Mill Road, Gillingham.

The centre is the UK’s leading specialist trampolining centre and one of Medway’s approved training venues for 2012.

They also toured Rochester and the Historic Dockyard.

Cllr Royle said: “We are delighted to have hosted this important delegation.
“I am sure they were impressed with the calibre of our venues, and also by our ambition to maximise the benefits of the 2012 Games for Medway.”

For more information about Medway’s build up to the Olympics visit www.medway.gov.uk/london2012