WHEN it was announced that the Olympic Games are to come to London in 2012, it was emphasised that it would not only be the capital that would benefit from the event.

WHEN it was announced that the Olympic Games are to come to London in 2012, it was emphasised that it would not only be the capital that would benefit from the event.

Now that pledge is being fulfilled with the announcement that training centres around the country are to get the organisers' seal of approval in the run-up to the games.

The Ipswich Gymnastics Centre in Brazier's Wood Road is a superb magnet for gymnasts across the country and its inclusion in the list always looked highly likely, if not a buttoned-down certainty.

It has already been used by Britain's athletes during a training camp, and has attracted the attention of one of the world's best-known gymnastics squads for their build-up to the games.

The gymnastics centre is not the only facility in Suffolk to have caught the eye of the Olympic organisers as they drew up their list of potential training venues.

Other centres will also benefit from being used by the world's best sportsmen and women as they prepare for their appearances at the world's greatest sporting event.

The London games are now just over four years away and anyone travelling to the capital by train can see the frenzy of work currently under way at Stratford in east London.

This area has much to gain from the Olympics - and today's announcement has given the first taste of the exciting times we can all look forward to.

AFTER a fairly benign winter, it was something of a shock to the system when March roared in with gale-force winds over the weekend.

The power of natural forces showed itself once again, and has caused especially serious problems at the Port of Felixstowe where the Landguard Terminal is now shut after two cranes were brought down.

It was particularly bad luck for the port authorities that their new cranes should have arrived by sea on the day the county was battered by the most ferocious high winds of the winter.

Bosses are now facing a clear-up and repair job that is expected to take weeks - weeks which will see a large part of the port put out of action forcing customers to use other docks around the country.

Everyone will be hoping that the repair work goes smoothly and that Britain's busiest container port is back to full operation as soon as possible because it is a vital element of the county's economy.

SUFFOLK'S best-known sports team may have spluttered to a tame draw at the weekend, but the county's other football teams have done the region proud.

We now have two clubs - Needham Market and Lowestoft - through to the semi-finals of the FA Vase and the county is also through to the final of the FA County Youth Cup.

Their successes show that grass roots football in Suffolk is thriving.

This county already has a great record in the FA Vase, with success by Sudbury over recent years.

Now it seems that another Suffolk team could be preparing to write its name on this prestigious trophy.