London's 'Olympic suburb' in Calais and northern France
The northern French region of Pas de Calais has spent £95m (120m euro) regenerating itself into a high-tech Olympic training centre, despite London beating Paris to host the 2012 Games.
Over the past few months the area has hosted Olympic teams from Australia to Uzbekistan, South Africa to Senegal and from Brazil and even Britain.
Stephane Bourgeois, director of sport for the regional council told the World At One's Emma Jane Kirby that Calais was like a "London suburb", claiming it was as quick to get to the games from Calais as it was from Greater London.
31 Jul 2012
- From the section UK