By James Crook

Double Olympic champion Laura Trott and Paralympic champion Mark Colbourne returned to the scene of their success at last summer's Games as they were unveiled as ambassadors for London 2012 legacy venue Lee Valley VeloPark, which will open to the public next year.August 29 - Double Olympic gold medallist Laura Trott and Paralympic champion Mark Colbourne returned to the scene of their success at last summer's Games as they were unveiled as ambassadors for London 2012 legacy venue Lee Valley VeloPark, which will open to the public next year.

The VeloPark, situated on the site of the old Eastway Cycle Circuit, will offer four cycling disciplines for riders of all abilities when it officially re-opens its doors next March, boasting a remodelled and floodlit version of the London 2012 BMX track, five miles of mountain trails, a floodlit one mile road circuit and the Velodrome which hosted stunning success for Britain on the track at the Games.

Shaun Dawson, chief executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority said: "We are absolutely thrilled and honoured to have these world class athletes as ambassadors for our world class venue.

"Laura and Mark will be an inspiration to the thousands of people who will visit Lee Valley VeloPark and their achievements and success at the Games will spur people who have never ridden before to take up cycling for health and fitness reasons and as a leisure activity as well as encourage and motivate those who are looking to ride as a competitive sport.

"Lee Valley VeloPark is a premier cycling venue and from 4 March 2014, the public will be able to try track cycling, BMX, mountain biking and road cycling.

"No other cycling venue in the world has brought these four disciplines together and having Laura and Mark as ambassadors for these unparalleled facilities will deliver the Olympic promise of inspiring a new generation of cyclists."

Double Olympic champion Laura Trott will take up an ambassadorial role for the Lee Valley VeloPark, which hosts the velodrome in which she won two gold medalsDouble Olympic champion Laura Trott will take up an ambassadorial role for the Lee Valley VeloPark, which is home to the velodrome on which she won two gold medals

The venue will offer a variety of courses from learn-to-ride sessions for children to major championships and events featuring some of the top cyclists in the world, beginning with the grand finale of the Revolution Series, which will take place at the 6,000-seat Velodrome in March 2014.

The venue is also in the running to host the 2016 International Cycling Union (UCI) World Championships.

"I am hugely excited to be the ambassador for Lee Valley VeloPark," said Trott, who won gold in the omnium and team pursuit events on the track at last year's Olympics.

"It holds a very special place in my heart, with unforgettable memories from London 2012.

"With its world class facilities, it really will inspire the next generation of cyclists; something that I feel passionate about and hope to help achieve through my role here."

Colbourne, who announced his retirement from the sport last week, reflected upon returning to the scene of his 3km pursuit gold at last year's Paralympics and spoke of what he hopes to achieve in his ambassadorial role.

"I do feel honoured to have competed in the Velodrome and very proud to have raced and won in front of my home crowd," he said.

"I felt totally euphoric when I won my gold medal in the 3km pursuit but at the same time felt rather sad.

Paralympic champion Mark Colbourne hopes that he will be able to inspire a new generation of cyclists in his ambassador role for Lee Valley VeloParkParalympic champion Mark Colbourne hopes that he will be able to inspire a new generation of cyclists in his ambassador role for Lee Valley VeloPark

"This was because my thoughts were of my father who had passed away six months previous to stomach cancer, as he wasn't there to see me live out my sporting dream and become a Paralympic champion.

"I've always enjoyed helping other people from all walks of life and I do feel that due to my hard work and determination never to give up when living out my dream.

"This ambassadorial role will help me to inspire many more children in their quest to achieve great things in sport and in life.

"The world class Lee Valley VeloPark is a testament to what can be gained from a home Games.

"The facilities are state of the art for all kinds of cycling, and with the various kinds of sport within cycling today, these family and group conditions can and will benefit every kind of cycling athlete for many years to come."

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