High praise for Sports Park as Jeremy Hunt MP launches BT Art of Sport

Local MP Jeremy Hunt was on hand to launch the BT Art of Sport exhibition at Surrey Sports Park and the Lewis Elton Gallery on Saturday.

The Olympic-inspired art exhibition, produced by the BT Art of Sport project, features sculpture, painting and photography from 12 leading UK artists that have been specially commissioned by the London 2012 premier partner BT as part of the forthcoming Cultural Olympiad programme.

Secretary of State for Culture, Olympic, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt said, “It’s my first visit to Surrey Sports Park and the facilities are incredibly impressive.

“The University of Surrey and Surrey Sports Park have risen to the challenge to get young people into sport and will continue to inspire athletes from across the globe on to success in London and beyond.”

Paul Blanchard, Surrey Sports Park Chief Executive said: “We are both excited and proud to be hosting the BT Art of Sport exhibition here at Surrey Sports Park ahead of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The exhibition is a spectacular visual showcase of both the Games and some of the UK's leading artistic talent and I encourage everyone to head to Surrey Sports Park and the Lewis Elton Gallery to take a look.”

Surrey Sports Park is set to host 16 Olympic and Paralympic nations for pre-games training camps ahead of this summer’s Games.

Pictured: Helyn Clack (Surrey County Counil), Dave Axam (BT), Jeremy Hunt MP, Jennifer Jordan (Mayor of Guilford), Paul Blanchard (Surrey Sports Park CEO)