The new 6000m² facilities were officially opened today by Lord Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
The state-of-the-art training facilities are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of sports for elite athletes, University students, staff and members of the local community and are the outcome of a successful partnership between the University of Ulster and Sport Northern Ireland.
Speaking at the official opening Lord Coe Chair of LOCOG said: "Formally opening the University of Ulster's new sports centre is a hugely exciting opportunity. The range of elite and community services it provides are extensive and will without a doubt lead the effort in Northern Ireland to encourage sports participation at all levels.
“The university has been successful in gaining an entry into the Pre-Games Training Camp Guide and the new sports centre is a core part of their offer to teams looking to base themselves in the UK prior to competition in 2012."
Commenting Gregory Campbell said: “This world class facility will be a huge benefit to Northern Ireland athletes in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and beyond. For Olympic teams from visiting countries choosing to train in Northern Ireland, it will provide excellent pre-games facilities prior to the 2012 Games.
“Northern Ireland is so proud of all our Olympic and Paralympic medal winners achievements at the 2008 Games in Beijing and I am confident that their performances and their successes will inspire many people to participate in physical activity and sport.”
The facility is home to the Sports Institute Northern Ireland (SINI) who provide specialist services and key facilities for up to 100 able bodied and disabled, international and national, sportsmen and women, to improve their competitive capacity within the World’s sporting arena.
Commenting on the development of a new 10-year Strategy for Sport and Physical Recreation, ‘Sport Matters’, the Minister said: “Sport Matters is at an advanced stage and will be published in the near future. The aim is to get people into sport and to encourage them to compete at the highest levels.
“Sport is an integral part of our culture in Northern Ireland. We enjoy sport, we cherish it, it inspires us, and it creates a sense of pride and projects a powerful, positive image of our community to international audiences.
“The power of sport should not be under-estimated and I would like to pay tribute to the commitment and dedication of many people within the University of Ulster, Sport Northern Ireland and sporting organisations across Northern Ireland in the development of this wonderful facility.”
Eamonn McCartan, Chief Executive of Sport Northern Ireland said: “The completion of this £13 million facility signals a new and exciting phase in the development of the Sports Institute Northern Ireland.
“It’s state of the art facilities in combination with the expertise of Sports Institute staff, are already delivering a training environment motivating and inspiring our athletes to new levels of success. Having been associated with the Sports Institute since its inception, and having played a major part in its development in partnership with the University of Ulster, it is now with great pleasure and satisfaction that we witness the completion of this building programme.”
University of Ulster Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard Barnett, said: "It is a great honour for Ulster to welcome Olympian Lord Coe to open the new world-class sports facilities at the Jordanstown campus.
"The development of the multi-million pound centre has once again shown the University's commitment to developing its vision of becoming the leading university for sport on the island of Ireland. With the London Olympic Committee already recognising the caliber of the services, by making the centre a training venue for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the University is on its way towards delivering its vision."
Lord Coe also received an honorary degree from the University of Ulster, and commenting the Minister said: “This is a well deserved honour in recognition of his outstanding achievements in sport. Lord Coe is well known in Northern Ireland and I hope that this honour will cement his relationship with us.”
Notes to Editors:
1.The University of Ulster’s World Class Sports Facility is home to Sports Institute Northern Ireland and includes: 400m2 Strength and Conditioning Suite with Mezzanine area; Recovery suite with Jacuzzi, plunge pool, sauna and steam room; Indoor and outdoor sprint tracks; Indoor jump and throws area; Sports science and physiotherapy rooms; 60m x 40m third generation rubber crumbed synthetic grass indoor hall that Gaelic games, soccer, rugby can use; New outdoor pitch developments include a floodlit water-based synthetic grass hockey pitch and a multi-purpose floodlit grass playing pitch.
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