Midlands sports venues and businesses have been urged to go for gold with opportunities offered by the London 2012 Games.
The Confederation of West Midlands Chambers of Commerce said work was under-way to identify potential host facilities. Global athletes will be seeking top class training camps and support. A seminar on training camps process will be held in the region in the autumn to provide information on how to get involved and bid for contracts.
David Burton, chairman of the Confederation of West Midlands Chambers of Commerce, said: "We know we have excellent sporting venues which can provide the quality facilities and services for these camps and we will support all initiatives to attract teams.
"It is very important the West Midlands, with its thriving and diverse business community, grasps the opportunities training camps and the 2012 Games have to offer if we are not to be left in the starting blocks."
The Chambers of Commerce were establishing business opportunity networks to keep businesses aware of preparations for the Games.
Among venues identified as potential hosts for training camps are the University of Warwick, Coventry University, Warwickshire College, the Coventry Sports Centre, Stoneleigh Park, the Ricoh Arena, Rugby School and the Royal Leamington Spa Polo Club. Each will be visited and assessed before they can be put forward to the next stage of the selection process.
The deadline for submitting venues to the London Organ-ising Committee for the Olympic Games is 31 January 2007.
The final selection will be made 12 months later and the successful facilities will be included in a Pre-Games Training Guide which will be distributed to National Olympic Committees and National Paralympic Committees in July 2008.
They will be seeking world-class training facilities, comfortable but affordable accommodation and food appropriate for training athletes, available at times to suit training schedules.
Access to a hospital with an accident and emergency department and advanced scanner technology will be required.
Suppliers of cars, mini-vans and coaches for transport between accommodation and training venues, security for athletes and support staff will also be important.
The proximity to airports and easy access to transport networks will be assessed.
Facilities in the West Midlands which believe they can meet the standards can contact either their County Sports Partnership or their Local Authority Leisure Services Department to discuss plans.
Submissions from the West Midlands will be collated through a working group.
