OAKLANDS College equestrian centre has been chosen as one the sporting facilities in the UK to be used by visiting countries training for the 2012 Olympics. The centre, based at the college s Smallford Campus, is the only such facility in the district and

OAKLANDS College equestrian centre has been chosen as one the sporting facilities in the UK to be used by visiting countries training for the 2012 Olympics.

The centre, based at the college's Smallford Campus, is the only such facility in the district and one of 17 in the county to be included in the official guide of 600 pre-games training camps approved by the organisers. The guide will be sent out to all national Olympic and Paralympic committees and it will be up to the individual national committee to decide whether or not to use the facilities.

College principal Mark Dawe said they were very excited that they had been chosen because the competition was so tight. He added that it would give their students a great opportunity and would promote their vision that the college was an asset to the community.

St Albans MP Anne Main said: "I am pleased that Oaklands has been identified as a possible venue for Olympic teams to train ahead of the London Games in 2012. I have long been saying that we should do everything we can to ensure that St Albans benefits from the boost in tourism and sporting facilities offered by the Olympic project.