Teesside University hosts Sudanese Olympic team

Teesside University is delighted to to be hosting the Sudanese Olympic team in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Teesside is playing host to ten Sudanese athletes and one coach, with the athletes taking part in track events at the Games.

The team is track training at Middlesbrough Council’s Clairville stadium with support from the University’s sporting expertise.

Professor Graham Henderson CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor of Teesside University, said: 'We are delighted to play host to the Sudanese team. We have excellent sporting facilities at Teesside University combined with world class professional support services in sports therapy, physiotherapy and physiology which they will be able to take advantage of as part of their training.

'As a multi-cultural University, we are also looking forward to sharing our culture and the Sudanese culture with students, staff and the local community. This is a wonderful opportunity for Middlesbrough and the Tees Valley to play a direct role in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.'

Geoff Hodgson, Chair of the London 2012 Nations and Regions Group for the North East said: 'The fact that yet another team have chosen the North East to train for the Games is testament to the Olympic level sporting facilities in this region. We are delighted to be welcoming the Sudanese team of athletes to Teesside University and are sure that they will be given a warm North East welcome.'

Councillor Brenda Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Public Health and Sport, said: 'It is excellent that Middlesbrough is playing host to an international team. The team can look forward to a warm Teesside welcome and some first class facilities, and I’m sure they will take away many happy memories of their time here.'

The five athletes will be based at Teesside University until mid-July before travelling to London a fortnight before the official start of the Games.

One of the Sudanese Olympic team, athlete Rabah Yousif, already has a base in Middlesbrough where he trains with athletics coach Carol Williams. He has won a number of athletics events in the UK – including setting a new record (45.72 seconds) at the 400 metres event of the Bedford International Games in 2007 then winning the event again in 2008.

Sudanese team Elnazir Abdelgadir 800 metres Abd Elmonium Yahya 3/5000 metres Sadam Suliman 400 metres Ms. Amna Bakiet 800 metres Osman Yahya 1500 metres Ms. Tsabih Mohamed 400m hurdles 5th World Youth Championships 2011 Mahmoud Ibrahim 100/200 metres Ismail Ahamed Ismail 800 metres Silver medal Beijing 2008 Olympics Mohamed Younis High Jump Gold medal All Africa Games 2011 Rabah Mohamed Yousif 400 metres Gold medal All Africa Games 2011

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