French try to steal 2012 Olympic athletes from Birmingham

May 17 2009 by Paul Suart, Sunday Mercury

“No other city outside London boasts so many top ranking restaurants in the 2009 Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

“I doubt whether the President of Calais has ever been to Birmingham. If he had, he would clearly see that the city has so much to offer overseas teams.”

The views were backed by Birmingham’s housing chief, Councillor John Lines.

He said: “Has Mr Dupilet not heard that Birmingham is the centre of the universe, unlike Calais where people can’t wait to get out and go wherever they’re going?

“We have the facilities, the accommodation and, above all, the friendly people.

“I’ve never had that in Calais.”

Mr Dupilet has set up a special task force called Mission 2012 to lure the world’s finest athletes to Calais, which is 21 miles from Dover and only one hour from London.

So far the £17 million project, which will see cash pumped into 20 new training facilities, has attracted interest among canoeing teams from Senegal and Uzbekistan, a set of Algerian boxers and the Egyptian volleyball squads.

Birmingham, meanwhile, was among the first British cities to try to link up with overseas teams and it is hoped the US track and field team will be based in the city during the Games.

President Dupilet refused to comment when his office was contacted by the Sunday Mercury.

But the Visit London tourist organisation has also rubbished the French campaign.

They said: “London would rather lose money to other parts of the UK than see it go overseas. I doubt whether Calais can begin to compete.”

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