FLAGSTAFF, Arizona, January 21. DUE to budget cuts dictated by the Arizona legislature, Northern Arizona University has elected to close its Center for High Altitude Training.
In a note posted on its site yesterday, the Center stated that Jan. 20 would be its last day in existence since opening in 1994.
Here is the note posted by the Center:
On January 20th, 2009, The NAU Center for High Altitude training closed.
Since 1968, Flagstaff has hosted elite endurance athletes for training, seeking an altitude environment in which to prepare for the Olympic Games. We're proud to have been one of the world's leading altitude training resources and will regret the loss of this world class training environment. We send our sincere appreciation to the Flagstaff community and to the students, faculty, and staff at Northern Arizona University for their support.
Since its opening in 1994, the Center has hosted elite athletes from around the world, helping them to achieve their performance goals.
* Elite athletes training through the Center have won 213 Olympic and Paralympic medals since the 1996 Games in Atlanta.
* Since 1994, the Center hosted more than 6,000 team members from 4 countries in 16 different sports.
The school's athletics department is currently discussing how it will enact its state-mandated cuts.
Watch a "Morning Swim Show" interview with Olympic gold medalist Kosuke Kitajima from the NAU High Altitude Training Center. Click here.