Sports Management Q2 2011 - UUM

NEWS
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Cardiff Council has revealed that the Welsh
capital has been successful in its bid for
European Capital of Sport status in 2014.
The decision was announced by the
European Capitals of Sport Association
(ACES) at an event held in Valencia, Spain,
and follows an inspection by delegates.
Cardiff Council leader Rodney Berman
said: “Th is will not only further heighten
our status as a top sporting destination, but
underline our commitment to sport as a
way of promoting health and wellbeing.”
Members of the public can now use the facilities
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The National Golf Centre Academy at
Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, is to open to
the public in order to enhance the standard
of teaching available to UK golfers.
Under the leadership of new head coach
Neil Harvey, visitors are to have the opportunity
to benefi t from facilities previously
only made available to elite players.
A series of new programmes have been
created, which are specifi cally tailored for
novices, juniors, and people looking for
one-to-one tuition or residential breaks.
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Lucozade Powerleague has announced the
offi cial opening of its new Wembley fi vea-side
football facility in London – the
operator’s 45th site to launch in the UK.
Th e 3-acre (1.2-hectare) venue is situated
adjacent to Wembley Arena and includes
six fi ve-a-side pitches and one seven-a-side
pitch – all of which are fully fl oodlit.
Changing areas and a sports bar are also
among the facilities at the new Wembley
centre, which forms part of Lucozade
Powerleague’s UK expansion plans.
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Hugh Robertson, the minister
for sport and the Olympics,
has helped launch a new £10m
fund that has been established
to help protect playing fi elds
across the country.
Sport England’s Protecting
Playing Fields initiative will
allow communities to improve
local playing fields or create
new pitches as part of its
Places People Play scheme.
Th e agency will make the
funding available across fi ve
£2m rounds, with grants
of between £20,000 and
£50,000 to be awarded to projects that include
the reinstatement of disused playing fi elds;
improvements to the condition of pitches; and
the purchase of new playing fi eld land.
Every scheme that receives support as part
of the programme also includes protection
from development for at least 25 years.
Stockton-on-Tees Borough
Council (STBC) and Tees
Active have revealed that the
Billingham Forum complex
reopened on 3 June, following
a major £18.5m overhaul.
Main contractor Morgan
Sindall completed work on
site at the start of May, which
enabled preparations to commence
ahead of the leisure
venue’s reopening.
Th e Devereux Architectsdesigned
Billingham Forum
includes a six-lane, 25m swimming
pool, with an additional
training pool and the retained learner pool.
Refurbished changing rooms and spectator
areas, an extended gym to off er 70 stations, a
rejuvenated ice arena and a new-look indoor
two-lane bowls rink are also included.
Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park, a new
£16.1m complex being developed in Huyton,
Merseyside, is to open on 26 September.
Designed by Broadway Malyan, the 6,600sq
m (71,042sq ft) complex will feature two
Playing fi elds that receive funding will be protected for at least 25 years
Meanwhile, Sport England has joined forces
with Fields In Trust to support the protection
of fi elds as part of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields
Challenge. Successful bidders under Protecting
Playing Fields that accept a Deed of Dedication
of a facility in ‘perpetuity’ will have the chance
to become a Queen Elizabeth II Field.
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Billingham Forum’s ice rink has been upgraded as part of the overhaul
STBC cabinet member for regeneration
and transport Bob Cook said: “Th is ambitious
refurbishment of the Forum has been a
challenging scheme but through working with
Morgan Sindall, it is now complete.”
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8 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital
swimming pools, a six-court sports hall, a
fi tness suite with up to 120 stations, squash
courts and dance studios.
A 400m outdoor velodrome and a BMX
track will also be among the sporting facilities
at Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park.
Issue 2 2011 © cybertrek 2011