A model of Scotland's new National Performance Centre for Sport, to be built at Heriot-Watt's Edinburgh Campus, is on view in the Garden Lobby at the Scottish Parliament this week, following Scotland's home nation success at the Commonwealth Games.
The Scottish Government has put £25 million towards the construction of this Centre at Heriot-Watt University which aims to create a world class sporting facility that will have a positive impact on the preparation of athletes
The £30 million development will be based at Heriot-Watt University which won a nationwide pitch for the project, in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council. It will open for business in summer 2016 and become the home for a number of sport governing bodies' performance programmes.
The Parliament exhibition is sponsored by Gordon MacDonald MSP, whose Edinburgh Pentlands constituency includes the University. He said, "The Commonwealth Games have helped to spark an interest in sport and a national pride in Scotland's achievements.
"Like many other nations, we want our sportspeople to be able to access the best when it comes to training and support. The Scottish Government has put £25 million towards the construction of this Centre at Heriot-Watt University which aims to create a world class sporting facility that will have a positive impact on the preparation of athletes, enabling them to successfully cope with the demands of competing on the world stage."
The project, developed through a partnership between Heriot-Watt University, the City of Edinburgh Council and Sportscotland, will include a new full size indoor 3G synthetic pitch, a nine-court sports hall, grass and synthetic outdoor pitches as well as a performance wing that includes areas for hydrotherapy, strength and conditioning, rehabilitation, elite changing, office accommodation and a classroom.
The existing facilities at the University, which include the current Sports Centre and Sports Academy, will also be bolstered by a new 150 station gym and café area. It is expected that the National Performance Centre for Sport will be home to:
€¢ Basketball Scotland
€¢ Scottish Football
€¢ Scottish Handball
€¢ Scottish Rugby
€¢ Scottish Squash and Racketball (already based at Heriot-Watt)
€¢ Scottish Volleyball