Purvis draws international attention to Olympic potential for Mountain Biking in the Scottish Borders

8.53.49am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 12th Jun 2008

Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale MSP, Jeremy Purvis, has today drawn international attention to Glentress Forrest, Peebles, by writing to National Olympic Committees' promoting the Tweed Valley as an approved training ground. Glentress Forest was recently named as one of the Mountain Biking training camps for the 2012 London Olympic Games, and Mr Purvis has since been keen to promote the fantastic training opportunities that the biking centre can offer to participating athletes.

Mr Purvis has consequently written to National Olympic Committees, spanning five continents, and invited all prospective biking teams to consider selecting Glentress as their training venue.

Commenting Mr Purvis stated:

"Glentress Forest is an absolutely outstanding facility and I have been very keen to promote its potential to prospective 2012 Olympic biking teams.

"Glentress is known to be one of the leading biking centres in the UK and beyond and I feel that the world's National Olympic Committees should be made aware of the great mountain biking routes that the Scottish Borders boast. In collaboration with the operators of The Hub, I have written to most of the world's committees to show to them the strength of our local offering.

"I hope the Committees' choose Glentress Forest as their countries' Mountain Biking training camp, and I look forward to welcoming international athletes to our area."