April 2005

in this issue

£7 million for University sport facilities

The University is spending £7 million on new sports facilities as part of a cohesive investment in health and wellbeing in the city.

University Court approved the investment which will see the University house a regional centre for strength and conditioning for performance sport and become a hub for health and wellbeing activity for the local community. Extended facilities at Riverside and on campus including hockey pitches, floodlit five-a-side pitches, a new fitness suite and three squash courts will be available for use by the public, staff and students at very competitive prices.

At Riverside sports ground, two state-of-the-art artificial grass surfaces for hockey and six five-a-side outdoor floodlit pitches will be developed. A pavilion with new changing facilities and a social area will be built. The development work will begin in June with facilities opening in late 2006 at a cost of £3.4 million.

On campus, three squash courts, a large extended fitness suite and a special strength and conditioning centre for top-level athletes will be situated on the ground floor of a new northwards extension to the current sports centre. The fitness suite will cover 450 square metres and will offer a large range of training equipment including extensive cardiovascular training provision. Two teaching rooms will be built on the second floor. One will be equipped for trainee primary school teachers learning how to teach physical education. The other will house the University's innovative exercise programmes for cardiac and diabetes rehabilitation. The new build will cost £3.6 million and will be completed in summer 2007.

Brian Ewing, Director of the Institute of Sport and Exercise, welcomed the investment. He said, "Sports, wellbeing, health and fitness are high priorities for the University and this significant investment reflects the University's commitment to sport. We want our students to have the facilities and support to take them to the highest level of their sport while at the same time providing the best opportunities for health and fitness for staff and students."

"This substantial commitment is also a significant investment in our local community and in Dundee. We will be opening up all of these new facilities and classes to public users at very competitive prices."

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