Sports Management Q2 2012 - Leisure Opportunities

SURREY SPORTS PARK – UNIVERSITY OF SURREYSynchronisedswimming offersspectator opportunitiesOLYMPIC TEAMS Antigua and Barbuda (swimming) China (swimming)Estonia (swimming)Great Britain (basketball)Malta (swimming)Mauritius (swimming)Mongolia (marathon)Nigeria (badminton, basketball, tabletennis, taekwondo, boxing, weightlifting and wrestling)Philippines (swimming)Singapore (swimming, badminton)USA (triathlon)PARALYMPIC TEAMSArgentina (boccia, football, judo,power lifting, swimming, tabletennis tennis)Mauritius (swimming)Nigeria (power lifting, tabletennis, tennis)Spain (swimming)Sweden (table tennis, swimming)FACILITIESThe state-of-the-art sports facilitiesinclude a 50m, UV-treated swimmingpool with a constant 2m depth that canaccommodate 30m water polo as well as50m and 25m swimming distances.One of the only world-champion badmintonfacilities in the country, the park’sthree, blue sports arenas aid shuttlecockvisibility and offers seating for 1,000 spectators,while high-profile basketball andnetball games can also be playedat the facility. Eight squash courts,A globalatmospherein the parkincluding six premium glass-backed courtsand two show courts with seating for180 spectators, are available, as well astwo multi-purpose exercise studios and a100-station health and fitness suite.Outside facilities include two floodlitsynthetic turf pitches, with a sanddressedpitch (AGP 3), a cushionedshock-pad, sand-dressed pitch (AGP 2)and a 3G, rubber-crumb surface pitch(AGP 1), eight floodlit tennis courts andeight football and rugby pitches.All the sport and recreational facilitieshave been designed to accommodatedisabled athletes as the provision ofoutstanding training and recreationalfacilities for disabled athletes has been apriority of the programme.The centre has been made widelyavailable to the residents of Surrey, whileinternational teams are in residence.Close collaboration with Surrey CountyCouncil and Guildford Borough Councilhas been crucial to the success of theproject and there has also been avery close working relationship withother sporting facilities in the area.These include Guildford Spectrum,Charterhouse School and Merrist Wood.This month, the park will also beopening a new Olympic-standardstrength and conditioning area, whichwill offer additional weights and cardioequipment to complement the park’sexisting health and fitness centre.COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES:CELEBRATE SURREYCelebrate Surrey is a programme ofpublic events which recognises thecontribution that both the University ofSurrey and Surrey Sports Park make tothe intellectual, economic and culturallife of the local, national and globalcommunity. The aim of the programmeis to encourage a culture of two-wayconversations between university staffand students, and people outside theuniversity as well as raising awarenessof the opportunities that exist. Italso aims to encourage a greaterunderstanding among the localcommunity of the ways in which theuniversity can benefit the area.The programme of events includesa year-long calendar of dance, music,exhibitions, plays and musicals; theOlympic-style Surrey Youth Games;an Olympic Festival and Torch Relaycelebrations and a mini, family-friendlyscience festival. Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 35