Let's Cram in what we can

Jul 3 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

WITH an impressive array of facilities already in place, Steve Cram believes regularly bringing top-class athletics events to the region is the key to producing more North East Olympians.

Gateshead is home to state-of-the-art facilities at the English Institute for Sport (EIS), while the region’s universities are some of the best-equipped in the country.

But Cram believes that alone will not be enough to produce a stream of talent worthy of succeeding the likes of himself, Brendan Foster and Jonathan Edwards.

Giving local youngsters somewhere to hone their skills is one thing, but Cram realises they have to be inspired to take up the sport first.

Gateshead has a fight on its hands to be included in the prestigious new Diamond League programme beyond the end of its current contract this year and Cram knows from personal experience its importance.

“What you’ve always got to do is have a range of events that is going to keep young people interested in the sport,” argued the former middle-distance runner.

“If you want to have good athletes you’ve got to keep providing that. When I was a kid, international athletics regularly came to Gateshead and it creates an interest.”

Former Olympic silver medallist Cram is trying to do his bit for the cause by organising the inaugural Kielder Marathon in October, and is hoping for a good London Olympics to help too. Encouragingly, the Kielder run has been so over-subscribed that a host of additional events have had to be added.

“The more we do, the more events we have, the more chance we’ve got of kids thinking they’ll have a go,” he said.

“As part of the marathon weekend we’ll be having kids’ events so the whole family can enjoy them, and we will have elite competitors as well. We’re trying to cover the whole spectrum.

“2012 is a huge opportunity for all sports to sell their case, and athletics has got to do the same.

“It’s going to be hard (to win track and field medals at 2012), as it is in athletics at all big events now. At the minute we’re hitting the five, six events medals mark and I think with a home Games there’s a chance to lift that a little bit, but we’re not going to double that. If we were to win seven or eight medals in London we would have done very well indeed.

“You need a couple of gold medal winners and we’re looking to the likes of Jess Ennis, Phillips Idowu, Christine Ohuruogu.

“We’ve got a bunch of events where we’ve got people in the world’s top two or three, you’d hope one or two of them step up and win the gold.”

With his role as chairman of the EIS, Cram is fully versed in the struggle to build athletics facilities in this country, but believes the North East is in a better position than most, thanks largely to the investment in its universities.

“Facilities are a bit of an issue because they are expensive to run and councils often don’t want to spend money on sport, particularly elite sport because they don’t think it affects many people,” he explained.

“So we are fortunate up here we have great facilities. Where I think it has more impact is in the universities. Northumbria, Sunderland and Newcastle have great facilities – Northumbria have a fantastic new sports centre, Sunderland have just built their city space.

“When you open them up to the community as well, that’s going to help us. We’re pretty well on in this area.”

:: GATESHEAD Stadium plays host to this year’s English Schools Cup final today (11am).

Teams from all over the country have qualified through regional rounds to line up in the competition, which covers the Under-14 and Under-16 age groups.

Gateshead Harriers travel to Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield today for their second British Athletics League Division One fixture.

The Tyneside club lie sixth after the opening round at Cardiff.

The third round of Northern Athletics League fixtures take place tomorrow, with local action at Middlesbrough, Jarrow and Hexham (11.45am field events, 1pm track).

Heaton Harriers promote the Anita Nott Women’s Only Race at Jesmond Dene on Monday night (7.30pm start).

Registration is at the People’s Theatre, Stephenson Road and entries will be accepted on the night.