Olympic Football Match Officials Getting Gold Medal Facilities at the Hive
Tuesday 29th May 2012, Edgware – The Hive Football Centre of Excellence has been chosen by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) as the Match Officials Training Venue for the Football Tournament at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The 85 Officials, a combination of Men and Women from all over the world, will be using the state-of-the-art training facility as their base in between matches for the duration of the tournament. They will be stationed at the centre of excellence, where Barnet FC’s First Team trains, from 18th July – 12th August. Whilst there, the Officials will be using 2 full-sized pitches to run through drills, replicate match scenarios and participate in other training exercises.
By training at The Hive, the Olympic Officials will follow a host of International and Club Football Teams who have used theCamrose Avenuefacility as their footballing headquarters, including The Swedish National Team, Egyptian National Team, Montenegro National Team, Parma FC, and FC Gabala, amongst others.
John Blasebalk, Senior Manager at Barnet FC, said, “It is an absolute honour to be selected by LOCOG to host the Olympic Officials during the course of the London 2012 Olympics. The Games are the biggest sporting event in the world so to be associated with it in some way is something all those associated with The Hive, Barnet FC and the local community should be extremely proud of.”
He continued, “The Hive has been growing in notoriety since it opened in 2009 and it shows how much recognition we are now receiving after having International Football squads training here, and now the Olympic Officials. Our aim is to constantly provide state-of-the-art, top level training facilities for elite athletes and local residents alike.”
About The Hive
The Hive Football Centre of Excellence is a 44-acre site providing top quality artificial and grass surfaces for community and elite football coaching alike. It is also the home of Barnet Football Club. It cost £11 million to construct and currently consists of two astroturf pitches, 10 grass pitches, 14 dressing rooms, physio rooms and meeting rooms. It was opened on 15 December 2009 by Fabio Capello and Sir Trevor Brooking.
About Barnet Football Club
Barnet Football Club is the only Football League Club in North West London. It was founded in 1888 and has played at its home at Underhill since 1907. Having been promoted to the current League 2 in 2005, it has remained a permanent fixture since then. In recent years they have played Manchester United at Old Trafford in the 2005 League Cup, reached the 4th Round of the FA Cup in consecutive seasons (2007, 2008) and recently played in the Southern Area Final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy against Paolo Di Canio’s Swindon Town