from Athletic Northern Ireland website Double Olympic gold medallist Sebastian Coe KBE today officially opened the University of Ulster’s new £20m world-class sports facilities at the Jordanstown campus. Lord Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) said: “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.”
The facility, which is jointly funded by the University of Ulster and Sport Northern Ireland’s Lottery Fund, is also home to the Sports Institute Northern Ireland.
University of Ulster Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Barnett said: “It is a great honour for Ulster to welcome Lord Coe, who has won four Olympic medals including two golds, to open our 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 calibre of our 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.”
During his visit to the university, Lord Coe also received the honorary degree of Doctor of the University (DUniv) from Ulster, in recognitionof his services to sport.
On receiving his degree Lord Coe said: “I want to thank the University of Ulster for this extraordinary honour. I am proud to be part of an institution with so preeminent a record of academic and sporting achievement.
“Thank you for welcoming me into your family.”
The 6000 sq metre sports facility has already shown its international pedigree as a training venue for Irish Olympic bronze medallist Paddy Barnes, Paralympic gold medallists Michael McKillop and Jason Smyth, and Northern Ireland representative teams at all age levels across all sports.
Eamonn McCartan, Chief Executive of Sport NI, said: “The completion of this £20 million facility signals a new and exciting phase in the development of the Sports Institute Northern Ireland.
“Its 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.”The University was delighted also to welcome Gregory Campbell, MP, MLA, Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, to the campus.
“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,” the Minister said.
“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.”
New World Class Sports Facilities fact file
Work began on the building in May 2006 and was completed in December 2007.
Design is by Samuel Stevensons Architects; building work by McCombe Bros.
The £20 million facility is jointly funded by the University of Ulster and Sport Northern Ireland’s Lottery Fund, and is home to the Sports Institute Northern Ireland.
Facilities:
60m x 40m multi-sport indoor Third Generation synthetic grass training hall
strength and conditioning suite
60m indoor sprint track; 110m outdoor sprint track
indoor throws area; indoor jumps area
physiotherapy and sports science area
health suite, including plunge pool, steam room, Jacuzzi and sauna
floodlit water-based synthetic grass hockey pitch
floodlit multi-purpose grass pitches
floodlit grass rugby pitch
