A Scottish hockey star and representatives from the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen City Council and sportscotland today visited the site where a multi-million pound sports centre is being built.
Contractor Barr is now at work at the Chris Anderson Stadium – site of the new regional sports facility for the people of Aberdeen and the North-east.
Demolition of the stadium itself is expected to begin within the next fortnight, with summer 2009 the target for completion of the project.
Touring the site today were David Beattie, Director of Sports Development at the University of Aberdeen; Mark Cowan, Senior Manager at sportscotland; and Councillor Jennifer Stewart, Aberdeen City Council Lead Councillor for Sport and Culture.
Also in attendance was University of Aberdeen Sport Science student Craig Harper, a senior Scottish hockey internationalist affiliated to the Grampian Institute of Sport.
"A lot of effort on all sides has gone into getting to this point so it's tremendous to see work now beginning in earnest," said Mr Beattie.
"The new facility will help in the training of world-class North-east athletes like Craig, as well as giving all students access to the kind of state-of-the-art sporting facilities that are long overdue.
"It will also be a huge benefit to those in the local community, regardless of their age or ability, who want to start leading a healthier lifestyle."
The purpose-built centre, which will be twice the size of the Garthdee Asda, will include:
· One of the largest indoor third-generation synthetic pitches in the UK
· Indoor and outdoor athletics training facilities – including a 400m athletics track, a hockey pitch and a grass football pitch
· Large multi-sport games hall (the size of nine competition-standard badminton courts)
· Fitness suite, studios and performance gym
· Water-based floodlit hockey pitch
· Sports performance and science laboratories
· Four squash courts (two glass-backed for competition)
· Indoor and outdoor spectator facilities
· Café and crêche
Partners the University of Aberdeen and Aberdeen City Council have committed over £10million each towards the first phase of the project, while sportscotland is contributing £7million.
The University is also working with the Council to help secure a 50m swimming pool for Aberdeen at the Regional Sports Facility.
Councillor Jennifer Stewart said: "Today we have reached a major milestone with this ambitious project to create the kind of sports provision that people expect and deserve in Aberdeen.
"This is a proud day for Aberdeen City Council, for the University of Aberdeen and for sportscotland because our partnership is now close to paying real dividends in the shape of top-class facilities for participants of all abilities."
Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair of sportscotland said: "It is great to see work on the Grampian Regional Sports Facility getting underway. The sportscotland investment of £7 million in the project, through the Scottish Government's National and Regional Sports Facilities Strategy, will play an important part in developing future successful sporting generations, supporting the pathways from participation to excellence."
For more information on the Regional Sports Centre visit: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/sportscentre/glance.php