Basketball team in 'dream move'

A Kent basketball team have revealed plans to move to a new £11m sports centre in Medway.

The Kent Crusaders, who are currently based in Canterbury, will transfer to the Medway Park site in Gillingham once it has been completed in 2010.

The team will also change their name to the Medway Park Crusaders once they have moved to the centre, which will be used as an Olympics training facility.

Chairman Jesse Sazant described it as a "dream move".

He added: "Access to a top class facility where the entire club can train and play has been a priority for the directors and Medway Park ticks all the boxes for us.

"The combination of the facility and the support of the Medway 2012 team and Medway Council will allow us to pursue our goals of being one of the top clubs in the country for elite basketball."

Paralympic sports

Todd Stuart, National Leagues Officer at England Basketball, said: "Since their entry into the National Leagues, the Crusaders have been amongst the top clubs in the country as far as administration, efficiency and success is concerned.

"Their move to this first class facility is fully deserved and we wish them the best of luck as the Medway Park Crusaders."

Medway Council said it was looking forward to welcoming elite basketball to area.

Medway Park, built on the site of Gillingham's Black Lion Leisure Centre, has been approved as a training site for eight Paralympic sports and 13 Olympic sports.

The site is scheduled for completion in 2010 and will include an eight-lane athletics track, a health and fitness suite and a sports science and therapy centre run by the University of Kent.