Eight Elite Training Centres receive UK Sport accreditation

Eight Elite Training Centres have been recognised by UK Sport for their contribution to the preparation of elite Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

They are the first to gain the status of “UK Sport-accredited Elite Training Centre”, a title created to highlight their role in helping athletes to achieve their full performance potential.

The eight organisations to have received the accreditation are:

Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre
Holme Pierrepont National Water Sports Centre
Loughborough University
Lilleshall National Sports Centre
Manchester City Council
Milton Keynes National Badminton Centre
Sheffield City Council
University of Bath

All eight organisations, and the facilities they provide, will now work to deliver improvement plans that will outline the continued development of their training environments. They form a network that will benefit from shared learning and continuous improvement.

Other Elite Training Centre (ETC) venues and organisations will be invited to achieve the new accreditation following the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in Paris.

To earn the status, an organisation must provide elite facilities and equipment, staff, and overall organisational culture with a clear commitment to continuous improvement. To be considered for accreditation, an ETC must also have a direct relationship with a UK national governing body (NGB) of sport, and the World Class Programme. It also has to operate a training hub for an NGB and a venue that hosts at least 10 funded World Class Programme athletes on site.

After the self-assessment process, a peer review takes place before accreditation is confirmed and signed off by UK Sport.

Dr Kate Baker, Director of Performance at UK Sport, said: “Our Elite Training Centres (ETC) provide the essential daily training environments for our Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The ETC accreditation framework reflects the excellence of their support and our confidence that they will continue to empower athletes’ sustainable high-performance.”