London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012
Training & Preparation Facilities
Dublin, Ireland
Morton Stadium, Santry, Dublin
The recently redeveloped Morton Stadium, with its world-class running track, is an ideal training base for Olympic and
Paralympic Teams in the lead up to the 2012 Games in London.
For me the Olympic and Paralympic Games have always been very special and I look forward to watching this great festival of
sport which is often referred to as the “greatest show on earth”. It brings an immense sense of pride to see our sportsmen and
sportswomen in action as they represent our country.
Ireland has a proud tradition at the Olympic and Paralympic Games and Irish men and women have enjoyed some wonderful
successes down through the years. Off the field our small nation has made an equally large contribution with Lord Killanin
becoming head of the Olympic movement worldwide. More recently Patrick Hickey has continued the great tradition, assuming the post of
President of the European Olympic Committees.
I believe that the recently upgraded facilities in Morton Stadium, Santry has afforded us the opportunity to add another chapter to our Olympic
history. The stadium has been the primary venue for athletics events here in Ireland for many years and has seen some memorable races in
that time.
Morton Stadium, with its new MONDO Surface, is now a World Class 2 accredited facility by the IAAF, allowing our own athletes to reach their
full potential. I believe that the decision of the National Sports Campus Development Authority to reach out and encourage other nations to
utilise the facilities is totally in keeping with the spirit of the Olympics. They are to be commended.
I hope that they will be successful and that you and your country’s athletes will consider basing your final training camp here in Dublin.
On behalf of all Irish people I can say that you will be very welcome – and you can be assured that you will experience the warmth of that
welcome.
Morton Stadium is a world-class facility. I encourage you to come and see for yourself. You will not be disappointed.
Mary Hanafin, T.D.
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport
“Over the years I have been immensely proud to represent Ireland
on the International Olympic Committee. For a small nation we are
hugely respected for the contribution we have made and which we
continue to make to the world of sport.
Given that contribution, it always saddened me that our best
and brightest sports men and women had in many cases to base
themselves outside Ireland in order to train and to reach their
potential. That is no longer the case for our athletes. We now have a
genuine World-Class IAAF facility at Santry.
I would encourage other nations to consider basing their Olympic and
Paralympic 2012 Athletics preparation at Morton Stadium, Santry.”
Patrick Hickey
President, European Olympic Committees
and Board Member, National Sports
Campus Development Authority
“I have competed in World Championships and great athletic
meetings all over the world. For me, however, the Olympic Games
is the ultimate and always will be. It is fantastic that the Irish
Government has invested in refurbishing Morton Stadium and laying
a new Mondo track. Competing in the stadium has inspired many
great Irish athletes down through the years. I’d love to see overseas
Olympic track & field teams base themselves in Dublin and utilise
what is now a wonderful facility.”
Eamonn Coughlan,
Irish Olympian
Board Member, Irish Sports Council
“The Olympic Games really are special. I have been lucky enough to
compete in four Games. I am particularly looking forward to the 2012
Games which are so close to Ireland in London. Those final weeks of
preparation for the Games are so important. Athletes need first class
facilities and need to have absolute peace of mind.
I have no doubt that anyone deciding to base themselves in Dublin will
find that they are in the ideal location for their final preparations.
I believe the Morton Stadium Santry is world class and I have no
doubt that it provides exactly the right facilities and location for
any athlete participating in track & field disciplines in the London
Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
J ohn Treacy
Olympic Silver Medallist 1984
CEO, Irish Sports Council
“Performance in the Paralympic Games requires top class preparation
in top-class facilities. In Dublin’s Morton Stadium, Ireland’s
Paralympic athletes have competed at our nations premier athletics
facility for over 30 years. I would highly recommend the facility to
any Paralympic athletics team looking to have a training base near
London in advance of the 2012 Paralympic Games.”
Liam Harbison
Secretary General, Paralympic Council of Ireland
Chef de Mission, 2012 Irish Paralympic Team
“I would recommend Morton Stadium to any
team as a competition and training base
in their preparations for the 2012 London
Olympics and Paralympics. It would be great
for Irish Athletics to have Olympic teams
training in Ireland. ”
Derval O’Rourke , Irish Olympic Athlete, 2004 & 2008
Morton Stadium, Santry
Morton Stadium has been the scene of many great
moments for athletics in Ireland and has recently
been awarded a Class 2 Athletics Facility by the IAAF.
Over the years some of the world’s greatest runners
have competed there and have set world records.
The new facilities are the best there have ever been.
Today Morton Stadium is under the management
and operational control of the National Sports
Campus Development Authority which is also
responsible for the world-class National Aquatic
Centre located in Abbotstown.
Facilities at the Morton Stadium, Santry include
the following;
Outdoor
• An IAAF Certified MONDO 400 metre track
with an eight lane circuit.
• A ten lane track on the finishing 100 metres;
• Four outdoor long jump pits; an all-weather
shot-put and hammer throwing area;
• Suitable equipment for all track and field
events.
Stadium History
The stadium was opened in 1958 with a cinder
track. An inaugural series of athletics meetings
was held. On 6 August 1958, Australian Herb
Elliott shattered the World record for the mile
with a time of 3 minutes 54.5 seconds. This
was the first race in which five athletes ran a
sub-four minute mile and this established the
Stadium on the World stage of Athletics.
Indoor
• A sprint area (60 metres x 7 lanes);
• High Jump; Long Jump and Pole Vault areas;
• A Gym with specialised equipment for
athletics training;
• Male and female changing areas.
The tracks (both indoor and outdoor) were
recently re-laid with the same MONDO track
surface that will be used during the Olympics in
London in 2012. This makes the facility particularly
attractive to the Irish and other Athletes who are
preparing for the London 2012 Olympics.
Morton Stadium, Santry was the base for the
European Cross Country Championship which
took place in December 2009. The extensive
public parkland adjoining the Stadium is ideal for
cross country training.
MONDOTRACK FTX by:
Support Facilities
Accommodation
The Sports Surgery Clinic
The Stadium has also partnered with a four-star deluxe
hotel and within 1km of the Stadium in order to provide
top class support facilities for teams deciding to locate
in Dublin.
The Sports Surgery Clinic (SSC) is an international
medical centre of excellence for people affected by or
at risk of musculoskeletal injuries. SSC offers a rapid
access facility for screening, diagnosis, prehabilitation,
and surgical treatment of acute and chronic sports
injuries.
The Crowne Plaza Dublin Northwood Hotel is situated
in a mature parkland of 85 acres in Northwood, Santry,
just a five minute drive from the M1 and M50 and is
easily accessible from Dublin Airport.
A fully equipped gym and a multi storey car park are on
site and the hotel offers a courtesy coach to and from
Dublin airport.
Adjacent to the Crowne Plaza is the three-star Holiday
Inn Express, with an additional 114 bedrooms.
“SSC is not just a unique facility for Ireland there is only a handful of comparable facilities
anywhere else in the whole world.”
Lord Sebastian Coe
Ambassador for London 2012 Olympics –
who officially opened the Sports Surgery Clinic in 2008
Crowne Plaza Dublin ,
Northwood Park, Santry,
Dublin 9
Sports Surgery Clinic,
Santry Demesne,
Santry, Dublin 9.
www.cpireland.crowneplaza.com
www.sportssurgeryclinic.com
Both the Hotel and the Clinic are located beside Morton Stadium, the National Athletics Stadium.
Travelling to and from Dublin
There are numerous daily flights between Dublin
and London. It is the busiest route served by
Dublin Airport.
Aer Lingus, BMI, British Airways, Air France,
Cityjet and Ryanair all fly to and from London.
The National Sports Campus works closely with
the Dublin Airport Authority.
Visiting teams can be assured that they will be
given VIP treatment coming through the airport
and leaving for London.
Dublin can also be accessed directly from the
USA and via all the main European hubs such as
Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Paris.
Ferry time
1 hr 49 minutes
Dublin
Crowne Plaza
Hotel
Sports
Surgery
Clinic
N2
Flight time
45 minutes
Dublin
Airport
10 minutes
10 mins from
international
airport
N3
Dublin
Airport
Northwood Park
M1
Morton Stadium,
Santry
Port Tunnel
City
Centre
N4
Dublin Port
Morton Stadium,
Santry
Dublin Bay
London
N7
M50
Dublin
City Centre
10 minutes
“I would urge any Olympic and Paralympic team to consider
Morton Stadium in Dublin as a low key venue most suitable
as a base for their final training camp. ”
Pat Hickey, President, European Olympic Committees
So why choose Morton Stadium, Santry?
• Dublin is less than an hour away from London
• Dublin has easy access from all parts of the world
•Morton Stadium is the same track as the London Olympics
will use (IAAF approved):
– 400m x 8 lanes
– 110m x 10 lanes
– four outdoor long jump pits
– all-weather shot-put and
hammer throwing area
– indoor training area
• A gym is available on site
•A dedicated Liaison Officer will be provided to each team
•Easy access to Sports Science and Medical Facilities
• Excellent Hotel Accommodation
• Part of the National Sports Campus
including the National Aquatic Centre
• Close to London!
For further information on all aspects
of this proposal please contact:
David Conway
Development Manager
National Sports Campus Development Authority
Tel: +353 1 809 7300
Email: [email protected]
Morton Stadium, Santry, Dublin
www.mortonstadium.ie
www.nscda.ie
Morton Stadium has the full support of the Irish Government,
the Irish Sports Council, the Olympic Council of Ireland, the
Paralympic Council of Ireland and Fingal County Council.
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