A MAJOR opportunity for sports, business and education in West Devon is there for the taking — that was the message sent out at an event in Tavistock last week.

The joint presentation by Tavistock College, Kelly College and Okehampton College told a packed meeting that the three schools' approval as a pre-Olympic training camp could bring a huge boost to the community.

It could put West Devon on the world map — but needed 'movers and shakers' to make the dream a reality.

The schools' sites include three sports halls, a new athletics track, three all-weather pitches, 12 grass pitches and eight sprung-floor playing areas. The Olympics Committee has approved the combined bid as being suitable for athletics, badminton, football and table tennis training prior to the 2012 games.

Jane Tope business and finance manager at Tavistock College, said there were a 'huge' number of approved training camps in the country — West Devon needed to press its 'unique selling point' if it was to be successful in attracting a team.

She said it was not realistic to think a major sporting nation would base itself in West Devon — but there were many smaller countries which could be interested — or national teams relevant to those sports approved for West Devon.

'We have fantastic sporting facilities but it's not just about them. We are also right on the edge of Dartmoor, we are only 14 miles from Plymouth, railway stations and the M5 are close by, said Ms Tope.

'We have to sell our history, our culture — we have beautiful National Trust houses nearby, the Eden Project, the Francis Drake heritage, the Barbican.

'We have to let people know where West Devon is, to put ourselves in the media spotlight. This could very much be a long-term benefit for the area.'

And Ms Tope appealed to the delegates present to get involved in the push to attract Olympians to the area.

'We are looking for the movers and shakers. We are looking to inspire you, perhaps join a committee to carry this forward. We are also looking for those of you who have any influence, any contacts, to move this on.'

Daryll Chapman, principal of Okehampton College, said: 'We could see from an educational point of view to have a team here would be a fantastic experience, but when we started thinking about it, actually the whole area of West Devon would benefit, if we could get a team interested in coming here to train.'

Dr Graham Hawley, headmaster at Kelly College, said the school already had experienced Olympians working with it and was doing all it could via international contacts to push West Devon's facilities.

Delegates were told the US team had already booked Alexandra Stadium in Birmingham for three months prior to the Olympics — China's team were going to Sheffield.

Christopher Kirwin said he was aware that Exeter's athletic track was already unavailable for the summer of 2012, as facilities were predicted to become scarce for non-Olympic events.

'If we could get somewhere like Bermuda to base themselves here — they are going to need a whole team base as well as a training camp, and a country like Bermuda doesn't have an enormous team,' he said.

Mandy Govier, chairman of governors at Tavistock College, said it was important to point out that as a small island nation, West Devon was only a short journey from the capital — and close to Plymouth, which had already been approved as a training site for swimming.

'We have to look at the area collectively as well,' she said.

Mrs Govier said the Olympic project was a 'great' idea and appealed to the community to take up the initiative.

'We have to remember that our primary role is to educate children. The project has fantastic potential but the schools can't run it themselves,' she said.

Anyone who would like to be involved in being part of the training camp project should contact Bridget Passmore at Tavistock College on 01822 614231 ext 205, or email [email protected]">[email protected]n. sch.uk

The Olympic brochure can be downloaded at http://www.tavistockcollege.devon.sch.uk">www.tavistockcollege.devon.sch.uk where there is also a link to the Olympic training camp site.