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Australian cycling team to base themselves at Geelong Trades Hall
Thursday, 29 July 2010
8:55 AM
Media Releases
The Australian team competing in the 2010 UCI Road World Championships in Geelong between 29 September and 3 October will use Geelong Trades Hall as its team headquarters.
Tim Gooden Secretary Geelong Trades Hall said he had offered the use of the building to the Australian team without charge to demonstrate support for the Australians and for the event itself.
Mr Gooden said he wrote to Cycling Australia’s National Performance Director, Shayne Bannan and sent a video clip of the facilities at Trades Hall via YouTube.
“Shayne wanted a facility close to the race course that would provide a quiet, warm space for the riders particularly for their pre event preparations,” Mr Gooden said.
Mr Gooden said the Australian team would use Geelong Trades Hall for team briefings, food preparation and massages and riders would do their pre-event warm ups on stationary bicycles within the hall.
“Traditionally unions have supported community sports and personally I wanted to support Cadel Evans as he has a local connection and I’m aware of his good works – he fixed up a bike for a young local girl whose family couldn’t afford one and he went to Tibet after the Olympics,” Mr Gooden said.
Mr Gooden said he also wanted to set an example for other organisations.
“Personally I want to show other building owners in the CBD how they can get on board and support the event,” he said.
“We’ll never see the like of this again – in no other elite sport can you get as a close to the action as cycling – it’s inspirational.”
City of Greater Geelong Mayor Cr John Mitchell said Mr Gooden’s offer to the Australian team was a great example of a local organisation getting behind the 2010 UCI Road World Championships.
“Trades Hall is providing tangible support to the Australian cycling team and showing how to think creatively about the world championships – it will be a week like no other and so it’s worth people thinking about what the opportunities and how they can engage with this once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said.
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