British athletes will get ready for Rio 2016™ in Minas Gerais
Minas Tênis Clube has signed an agreement with the British Olympic Association that also includes exchange and knowledge sharing programmes
The agreement was signed by Sergio Bruno and Andy Hunt (Orlando Bento/Minas Tênis Clube)
Third place on the medal table at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Great Britain chose one of Brazil’s most important clubs for the final stretch of its preparation for Rio 2016™. Team GB will be hosted at Minas Tênis Clube’s venues in Belo Horizonte (MG) before and during the Games.
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The agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding, was signed by the Minas club and the British Olympic Association (BOA) in the end of December. It also deals with programmes on professional exchange and expertise sharing in different areas: sports science, medicine, education and training, marketing and media, among others.
“We were very impressed by Minas Tênis Clube’s variety of available world-class sporting venues, and equally thankful for the professionalism, friendship and warm welcome that we experienced. We are sure that the club´s environment will offer the flexibility that Team GB needs. We hope to develop our relations with the Club President, Sergio Bruno Zech Coelho, and his staff as we build our detailed planning for the Games”, said BOA chief-executive, Andy Hunt, to the club’s official website.
“Minas Tênis Clube is honoured that the British Olympic Association chose us as its base for the Rio 2016™ preparation activities. Great Britain and Northern Ireland are among the leaders of the International Olympic Scene. We see this partnership as representing various opportunities that will encourage the development of the club’s sporting activities”, declared the Club President, Sergio Bruno Zech Coelho.
The leaders of the Aquatics, Basketball, Boxing, Fencing, Gymnastics, Hockey and Rowing Teams were involved in the British choice. In order to identify possible preparation sites, the level of sporting venues, the quality of available medical and catering services, accommodation, security and location were all taken into consideration by the BOA. There was a need for a region with time and weather conditions similar to the ones in Rio de Janeiro, as well as a short travel distance to the Olympic Village.
