Regional athletics facility for Shetland
Wednesday 28 April 2004
Frank McAveety MSP, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport will officially open Shetland’s brand new athletics track and field facilities at Clickimin Leisure Complex on Friday 30 April 2004, as part of his two day visit to Shetland.
The six lane track at Clickimin Regional Athletics Facility now boasts new field event facilities and security fencing, extensive floodlighting, storage for competition equipment, thanks to an award of £256,331 from the sportscotland Lottery Fund Sports Facilities Programme.
The complex will be available for use by the whole community, regardless of age and ability, hopefully encouraging people to participate in sport more often, providing a bright future for generations of athletes to come. With the introduction of floodlighting, the facilities will now be available all year round, allowing athletes to extend their training sessions which were once restricted to daylight hours.
“With the provision of all year round facilities elite athletes will be able to extend their training opportunities to match those of their counterparts on the Scottish mainland, allowing sporting talent in Shetland to be recognised and nurtured accordingly.”
The complex run by Shetland Recreational Trust, will work in partnership with Shetland Island Council, Shetland Amateur Athletics Club and Scottish Athletics to develop new sporting programmes, organise local competitions and regional meets with Orkney and the Western Isles as well as working to host schools sport development initiatives. The athletics track also meets international standards, which will allow it to host major competitions including the Natwest Island Games, due to take place next July.
Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland said: “sportscotland is delighted to have contributed £256,331 to this project which has provided the Shetland community with a quality, accessible facility that is available to people of all ages and abilities, helping to make more people, more active, more often.
“With the provision of all year round facilities elite athletes will be able to extend their training opportunities to match those of their counterparts on the Scottish mainland, allowing sporting talent in Shetland to be recognised and nurtured accordingly.”
Sports Minister Frank McAveety said: "The Scottish Executive is fully committed to supporting the development of the sporting infrastructures of more remote areas. This facility makes a major contribution towards the promotion of active healthy lifestyles for schools and the whole community alike. The new facility will also give Shetland's track stars of the future a local base on which to train."
Joe Irvine, Chairman of Shetland Recreational Trust added: “The replacement of the athletics track at Clickimin has been part of our maintenance and renewal plans for a long time and we are delighted that contributions from Shetland Charitable Trust and sportscotland have meant that this new facility has been completed a full year before the NatWest Island Games in 2005.
“Not only will it serve as a centrepiece for those Games, but it will provide a lasting legacy for the future.”
- The opening ceremony will take place at Clickimin Regional Athletics Facility, Clickimin Leisure Complex, Lochside, Lerwick, ZE1 0PJ at 3pm
- Frank McAveety MSP visits Shetland on a Tourism, Culture and Sport tour and will be meeting with representatives from the three respective areas
- There is a press opportunity at the Town hall, Lerwick at 12:30 on 30 April 2004