Chester Chronicle
OLYMPICS: BETH TWEDDLE has only one regret about London being awarded the 2012 Olympic Games -she'll be too old to compete in them!
The 20-year-old gymnast from Bun-bury, who represented Great Britain at last year's Olympics in Athens, was working hard in the gym when she heard news of the capital's successful bid on Wednesday afternoon, writes DAVID TRIGGS.
London won a two-way fight with Paris by 54 votes to 50 at the IOC meeting in Singapore after bids from Moscow, New York and Madrid were eliminated.
Paris had been favourites throughout the campaign, but Tweddle was thrilled to hear London had upset the odds.
She said: 'I'll be retired by 2012, but I thought the news was fantastic. Every athlete dreams of competing at an Olympics, but to have one in your own country is even more special.
'It's a great boost for British sport. The atmosphere in the gym was good when everybody heard about it.
'It gives the younger gymnasts something to work towards.'
Tweddle was yesterday heading to Guildford for the British Gymnastics Championships. She will compete alongside Liverpool clubmate Mel Roberts, of Saltney.
Local athletics stalwart George Bunner, former mentor of Olympic athlete Paula Radcliffe and chairman of the AAA of England, also welcomed news of London's successful bid.
'It will inspire young people to get active in sport, and that's good,' said Bunner, who is also founder of Frod-sham Harriers. 'Anything that inspires young people is good.
'I just hope it encourages the government to invest in facilities for all sports.'
And Bunner sounded a note of caution to those who may be getting carried away with London's success.
'There is a danger things get focused on London, and all things get ploughed into London so the provinces suffer as a result,' he warned. 'It would be something I hope doesn't happen.
'It's fine to get the Olympics, but it mustn't be at the expense of the provinces.
'It would not be a good thing if the provinces were starved of investment. The danger is if budgets run over the top and get out of hand, then that could happen.
'It would curtail our development if all funds were diverted to London.'
He added: 'We need the whole country behind it. The kids now are the Olympic stars of the future so they need to be looked after. Everybody has got to pull together.'