AN ANGLESEY sporting hero plans to bring international athletes to Island if he can secure funding to expand his training centre.
1986 Commonwealth weightlifting champion Ray Williams hopes to raise up to £200,000 to extend the Holyhead Weightlifting Centre so that it can attract competitors in the 2012 Olympics.
“The club has an innate knowledge of the sport, which has got to be good for teams coming to the country,” he said. “There will be nothing to parallel it in Wales.”
The centre is already an accredited 2012 Olympic training venue.
Plans to increase the number of training platforms from three to 12 were accepted by Anglesey Council last week.
The plan also includes seating for up to 200 people.
Ray will make a presentation to the International Weightlifting World Congress World Congress next year to persuade teams to train in Holyhead in the run up to the games.
He added that being away from the hectic atmosphere of the games would benefit competitors.
He said: “There are so many teams training in the main venue that you get allocated time to train.
“You don’t want to be in a gym training with all the others.”
The centre, located near the Millbank playing fields, opened five years ago and hosted a tournament between Malta, Wales and Northern Ireland last year.
Ray added that teams would receive a warm Welsh welcome during their time in the region.
“They would have a great time on Anglesey and we could take them to see the many sights of the island and the area,” he said.
It has also produced a number of talented young competitors include Gareth Evans ,24, of Holyhead who will compete at the world Senior championships in Turkey in September.
He is also tipped for a medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Menter Mon secured Rural Development Plan for Wales grants for a business plan and architect’s plans for the centre and is also helping Ray find grant funding.
Holyhead Town Council paid for a planning application.
Councillor Cliff Everett said that the centre was essential to the town and island’s renegeration.
He said: “We’ve done a lot of regeneration projects on Anglesey but not many for young people and there many young lads training there.
He said that the visiting teams would provide a welcome boost the island’s shops and accommodation.
“Everbody’s on board, we just need the money,” he said.
Cllr Everett added that the centre would have a knock on effect on the town’s economy.