Olympians select AECC in Bournemouth to prepare for London 2012

July 29, 2012 — The Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (AECC) has been selected to host the Olympians because of its state-of-the-art clinic facilities and renowned expertise in supporting elite athletes.

The contingent, which includes some of Iceland’s top track and field athletes as well as three of their head coaches, will be arriving at AECC’s campus July 23 and will be departing for the Olympic Village at the beginning of August.

As well as taking advantage of AECC’s specialist sports and training facilities, the athletes will also be supported by AECC’s world class faculty and each will have a team of dedicated student interns.

Icelandic coach, Gunnar Páll Jóakimsson said; “Having the pre-Olympic training camps at the AECC Bournemouth ensures that the athletes will get the best physical treatment possible and be at their best physical state when entering the most important competition of their lives. Staying in Bournemouth, away from the stress and noise of the city, helps the athletes to stay focused and relaxed both during training and rest time.”

The athletes include; Ásdís Hjálmsdóttir, a 26-year-old javelin thrower; Kári Steinn Karlsson, a 25-year-old marathon runner; and Óðinn Björn Þorsteinsson, a 30–year-old shot put thrower. Accompanying them will be Stefán Jóhannsson, javelin coach; Gunnar Páll Jóakimsson, marathon coach; and Helgi Thor Helgason, shot put coach.

AECC Principal, Professor Haymo Thiel said; “We are delighted that the Icelandic Olympic team have selected the AECC to host their final training preparations. This decision demonstrates our widely renowned expertise in sports assessment and performance enhancement and highlights what the AECC can offer to world class elite athletes from this quiet corner of Bournemouth.

“The AECC has been at the forefront of chiropractic education and research for almost 50 years and offers a wealth of experience in supporting elite athletes. Spending their final preparation time at the AECC will ensure that the athletes are able to benefit from the full range of support and services available in the run up to London 2012.”

The AECC exercise centre and chiropractic clinic contains more than £100k worth of specialist sports equipment for assessment and training, designed to strengthen, restore and improve the function of muscles and joints. The centre is renowned for its sporting expertise and works with athletes, from grass roots to Olympic professionals, to assess and advise on methods to improve sporting performance so they are in optimum condition.

Director of the AECC Clinic, Dr Neil Osborne, said; “Our number one priority is to ensure that the athletes have the best possible preparation environment before they head off to the Olympic Village. Our excellent staff and clinic interns will be on hand to support the athletes throughout their time at the AECC. We are confident that AECC’s excellence in the field of physical performance will be of huge benefit to the Olympians and we look forward to working with them.”

Source: Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, aecc.ac.uk