Hive Football Centre to Host Match Officials for London Olympic Football Tournament

abortion helvetica, ed sans-serif;”>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.

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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 18 July – 12 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 the Camrose Avenue facility 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.

“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.”