30 June 2006

Sportscotland funding for new regional strength & conditioning centre in Dundee

Sportscotland is helping Scotland's future sportsmen and women on the pathway to success following an award of £254,681 for a new regional strength and conditioning centre at the University of Dundee.

The new centre, will be an extension of the University's existing Institute of Sport and Exercise and will ensure Scotland's high performance athletes have access to a high quality performance environment. The facility will be managed by the Institute of Sport and Exercise and staffed by strength and conditioning coaches from the Tayside and Fife Area Institute of Sport and the Scottish Institute of Sport. The athletes will be given the opportunity to access individually tailored and supervised strength and conditioning programmes using the latest equipment, funded by a sportscotland Lottery award of £65,545 (announced in January 2006).

The Institute of Sport and Exercise offers a wide range of sports development programmes, and currently supports 42 sports clubs within the University Sports Union. They also provide a range of coaching programmes to adults and children and the new facility will provide scope to extend their work in this area.

This regional strength and conditioning centre will be part of a national network of centres developed jointly by sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport.

Strength and conditioning is an important part of athletes' training schedule and focuses on developing an athlete's strength, speed, power and endurance in relation to the particular demands of every individual and sport. Strength and conditioning enables an athlete not only to be a more physically able performer, but also to decrease their chances of becoming injured during training and performance. A number of top athletes attribute their successes to the Scottish Institute of Sport's strength and conditioning programme include Olympic cycling gold medallist Chris Hoy and Olympic silver medal canoeist Campbell Walsh. Amongst the local athletes to benefit from the new facility will be hockey players Catriona Semple and Vikki Bunce, swimmer Ross Clark and rugby players Richard Vernon and brother Alan and Andrew Dimmock.

"The University of Dundee is delighted to receive this award from sportscotland," said Brian Ewing, director of the University's Institute of Sport and Exercise. "The Regional Strength and Conditioning Centre will complement our own £4 million investment in campus facilities for sport and exercise and the award reflects the important role that the Institute plays in the development and support of high performance sport in Scotland."

"The Institute of Sport and Exercise, in conjunction with our local partners in the Area Institute of Sport and SportTayside and Fife, is already providing outstanding support for elite athletes in the area as we strive to assist them to reach their sporting potential. The creation of the Regional Centre will only add value to these programmes. In addition the University's Excel Sports Scholarship programme, which supports those elite athletes studying here at Dundee, and our student sports clubs can only benefit from having such modern facilities on their doorstep."

Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair, sportscotland said: "It is important that our young athletes have the best possible support network to help them realise their potential. The sportscotland investment of £254,681, to develop a regional strength and conditioning centre at the University of Dundee, will enable athletes to access this essential service close to home."

"The path towards success on the world stage can start at a very early age, and sportscotland is working to support an athlete's progress at all levels. The Area Institutes of Sport and these centres are key to creating this clear pathway for each athlete to reach the very top in their chosen sport."

For more information contact:
Ruth Anderson, Press Officer, sportscotland
Tel: 0131 472 3340 (direct) or 0131 317 7200

NOTES TO EDITORS

* In January 2006 sportscotland announced an investment of £383,583 to provide an enhanced strength and conditioning network across Scotland. The investment saw the six Area Institutes benefiting from new strength and conditioning equipment and included £65,545 for this facility at the University of Dundee.

* Launched in March 2004, the Building for Sport Programme (BfS) is divided into two strands: Community Facilities and Training and Competition Facilities.

* Applications for the Community Facilities Programme covers the provision or upgrading of facilities for the local community.

* The Training and Competition Facilities Programme concentrates on the provision or upgrading of centres designated as a national or regional facility by the relevant national governing body for sport.

* The Area Institutes are partnerships between local agencies involved in the development of performance sport along with sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport.

* The six Area Institutes offers selected athletes access to coaching programmes, facilities and support services delivered by experienced coaches, will help nurture the next generation of talent who will ultimately feed into the Scottish Institute of Sport and hopefully go on to enjoy medal success on the world stage. There are currently over 320 athletes across 15 sports from tennis to waterskiing who benefit from Area Institute support. All members have access to essential services including strength and conditioning, support facilities, coaching, sports medicine, sports science, and performance lifestyle.

sportscotland Building for Sport Programme - June 2006
Training and Competition Strand

University of Dundee (Old Hawkhill, Dundee City)
Project Title: Regional Strength and Conditioning Centre
Award: £254,681
Contact for Press: Roddy Isles, Head of Press, University of Dundee
Tel: 01382 384910
To develop a regional strength and conditioning centre

1 award totalling £254,681