Herefordshire MPs Join Forces For Olympic Bid.

Herefordshire’s MPs will carry the county’s Olympic torch by lobbying the Government for funding and acting as ambassadors in a bid to attract international teams to the area.

Paul Keetch, the Lib Dem member for Hereford, and Mr Wiggin, Conservative representative for Leominster, have added their support to Herefordshire’s Paralympic bid as part of the London 2012 Games.

The pair put aside party politics to join Herefordshire’s Olympic/Paralympic Group (HOPG) at its recent meeting, held at the Royal National College for the Blind (RNCB), Hereford, on Friday, September 23.

Mr Keetch said: “It’s great news for the country that the Olympics are coming to London in 2012 and we want to work together to make sure it’s great news for Herefordshire as well.

“This county has already got some excellent facilities and with more on the way lets try to build them into the Olympic dream.”

Mr Wiggin added: “I want to see Herefordshire winning. We have got special facilities here, especially for disabled people, and I want to see Herefordshire be part of the Olympic spirit.

“I have been involved in the Olympics for the last four years and attracting teams here would bring many lasting benefits.”

Both have offered to help secure government funding and attract international teams to the area once the county is ready to bid.

The Herefordshire’s Olympic/Paralympic Group, which includes Herefordshire Council, Herefordshire Sports Council, Herefordshire Riding for the Disabled, the Royal National College for the Blind, leisure trust halo and voluntary groups, is spearheading the county’s bid to attract the Paralympics to the area.

The group hopes to attract paralympic teams to the county where they will use facilities to acclimatise ahead of the main Games in London.

Peter Shaw, Herefordshire Council’s Project Leader, said: “It was very encouraging to have both our MPs attend the group meeting – their input and support was a timely boost.

“Their influence in terms of attracting funding and bringing international teams to the county could be crucial during the later stages of our bid.

“We will now go away and look at where we are with the bid, what facilities we have to offer, what we don’t have and what paralympic teams require.” 

Herefordshire’s Olympic/Paralympic Group has already held advanced talks with regional as well as national organisers to push the county’s case.

It is anticipated halo facilities will be upgraded while The Royal National College for the Blind and Herefordshire Riding for the Disabled both plan to build multi-million pound centres of excellence to cater for paralympians.

Organisers are also planning to stage cultural festivals, street entertainment and specials sports tournaments to coincide with the 2012 Games.