University of East London get Team USA training treat
As the Olympic Games take hold of the nation, students from the University of East London were treated to an “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to witness NBA All-Stars and Olympic champions training behind closed doors.
The University of East London (UEL) has over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide and its Docklands and Stratford Campuses are Team USA’s main base for athlete training, performance services, staff and training partner accommodation, catering, media and logistical operations.
Approximately 1,000 Team USA athletes and staff, including the men’s and women’s basketball teams, are using UEL’s new £21million state-of-the-art SportsDock during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
LeBron James, who won his first NBA Championship last season with Miami Heat, remarked: “It’s great; a good opportunity for US athletes to come and train here. I think it’s unbelievable.”
When Los Angeles Lakers’ legend, Kobe Bryant, was asked for his verdict on SportsDock, he was also giving it high praise: “It’s gorgeous; a beautiful training facility that is really well done.”
With Team GB fielding its first ever Olympic women’s basketball team, and the first men’s team since the 1948 Games, Kobe also took time to offer advice to kids in east London who play basketball who may turn out to be stars of the future: “They should just keep playing and make sure they have fun. I look forward to seeing them in the NBA.”
SportsDock will be closed to all customers until Wednesday 15th August, for the duration of the stay of Team USA’s Olympic contingent, but will re-open Thursday 16th August. However, Team USA’s Paralympic contingent will still be based in Arena Two of the facility until SportsDock is fully re-opened on Sunday 2nd September.
