Plans for sporting centre of excellence
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The University of Kent at Medway pledged up to £3million to be invested in sporting facilities in Medway at the dinner held at The Corn Exchange in Rochester on Tuesday, 23 January, as part of Medway: 2012 Days to the Olympics. The event rounded off a day when four Olympic sports stars arrived in Medway to support the area’s bid to be part of the 2012 Olympics and a raft of initiatives to increase participation in sport, healthy eating, training and coaching opportunities was announced. Professor Keith Mander, deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Kent, said: "I am pleased to announce that the University of Kent shares with Medway Council the aspiration to see the Black Lion Leisure Centre in Gillingham developed as a centre of sporting excellence providing a legacy for the whole community. The University of Kent has made provision for up to £3million to help with this development." |
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Sir Steve Redgrave, Steve Cram, Danny Crates and Steve Backley were special guests at a day-long series of events to mark 2,012 days until the opening ceremony of the London Olympics on 27 July 2012.
Among the announcements were plans to create a centre of sporting excellence, called Medway Park, around the site of the Black Lion Leisure Centre in Gillingham.
The plans include:
a radical overhaul of the centre to bring it up to the standard required in the 21st century;
a new purpose-built gymnastics centre alongside the Jumpers Rebound Centre so that Medway can offer world-class training and facilities in all gymnastic sports;
a new athletics track;
specialist sports therapy and sports science facilities shared with the university.
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The project will be developed in conjunction with a number of key partners. Over the coming months, detailed plans will be drawn up and submitted for formal permission. Work should begin later this year. The Portfolio Holder for Community Services, Cllr Howard Doe, said: “The announcements today underline our commitment to putting Medway firmly on the sporting map. |
“We have a great opportunity in this country to get excited, enthused and serious about sport. We also have an opportunity for everyone to take pride in Medway and the part that the area can play in the Olympics and beyond.’’