Members of the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis Performance squad, including Beijing double Paralympic gold medallist Peter Norfolk, have visited the London 2012 Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis venue at Eton Manor to see first-hand the progress being made on construction.
During the Paralympic Games, Eton Manor will host the Wheelchair Tennis competitions with temporary seating for 10,500 spectators. During the Olympic Games, the venue will provide temporary aquatic training facilities including three Olympic-size swimming pools, a synchronised swimming pool and a water polo pool. After the Games, Eton Manor will deliver multi-purpose sport and leisure facilities for the local community.
Steady progress has been made at Eton Manor since construction started in April 2010 and the venue is taking shape. A key challenge in the construction is the transporting, lifting and fixing of eight 40m long beams - the longest single span timber beams in the UK.
The timber structure will be complete by Spring 2011 and works remain on schedule to complete the main facilities building by the Autumn. All work will be completed by the beginning of 2012 in time for test events ahead of the Games.
The Tennis Foundation's Wheelchair Tennis Performance Squad before the tour
Beijing double Paralympic gold medallist Peter Norfolk commented, “Visiting the Eton Manor site really brought the London 2012 Paralympics alive for me and it was amazing to see where I’ll hopefully be competing on Centre Court. I can’t wait to see the finished venue and get out there and play.”
Seb Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), said, “I’m thrilled that members of the GB Wheelchair Tennis team were able to see the progress on Eton Manor which will be a first-class facility for Paralympic sport in 2012. There are also great plans for the venue to be used in legacy as a multi-purpose sports centre. This is the first time that a centre has been purpose built for the Wheelchair Tennis event and I am delighted that people will have the opportunity to try out the sport after the Games.”
Tim Reddish, Chairman of ParalympicsGB added, “I’m pleased that some of Britain’s best wheelchair tennis players have had a chance to see Eton Manor. It will provide them with a valuable behind-the-scenes preview of where some of them may be competing for ParalympicsGB in 2012 and will undoubtedly inspire them to train even harder in the coming months to prepare for the Paralympic Games.”
After consultation with the Eton Manor Association, the historic Eton Manor Memorial - a tribute to Eton Manor Club members who fought and died in the First and Second World War - and the Churchill War Memorial were removed from the site at the end of last year to protect them during construction. After the Games, they will be moved to a central location on the Eton Manor site within a new public plaza and garden area in front of the legacy sports facilities.
Images by the Olympic Delivery Authority
Find out more about the wheelchair tennis players
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