Confucius say Salto is the place to be

This visit, which included Chinese delegates, was part of the week-long series of events held to mark the official launch of the Institute.

Councillor Thomas Beckett, Chairman of the Council’s Leisure Services Committee, said: “The Council was very pleased to hear that the Chinese delegation of academics and business people from the Confucius Institute were keen to visit Salto. Their interest was focused on seeing the facility at which China, the world’s number one Gymnastics team, will train at this summer in advance of the London 2012 Games.

“Both Salto and the Council are proud that the Chinese gymnastics team with its host of potential Olympic medallists will be using this facility and its state of the art equipment. To have Chinese business representatives in attendance is also good news for Lisburn, which is one of the fastest-growing, competitive business regions in Northern Ireland.

“I would like to congratulate the University of Ulster in securing its position as the home region’s Confucius Institute; and I hope that Lisburn can play its part in developing business links and maintaining its sporting relationship with China,” he concluded.