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Oriam, the new £33m world class sporting facility for Scotland, has been delivered on time and on budget at Heriot-Watt's Edinburgh Campus.
This is another world class sporting facility for Scotland that will benefit both our elite athletes and grassroots competitors.
Backed by £24 million from the Scottish Government and £9 million from key partners, sportscotland, Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh City Council, Scotland's stunning national sports performance centre will open to the public on 29 August.
The partner sports include the Scottish FA, Scottish Rugby, Basketball Scotland, Netball Scotland, Scottish Handball, sportscotland Institute of Sport and Scottish Squash and Racquetball.
Throughout the planning and build Oriam worked extensively with these sports who will use Oriam as a training base, and senior representatives from across all key funders and sporting partners enjoyed an exclusive pre-opening tour.
Catriona McAllister, Oriam's Chief Executive, said, “We are absolutely thrilled that Oriam is ready to open after all partners helped to deliver the project on time and on budget. Particular thanks should be offered to our hugely supportive funders the Scottish Government, sportscotland, Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh City Council, as well as our brilliant contractors, Bowmer & Kirkland.
“It is now all about the sports and delivering that platform both for national excellence and local participation. Oriam is something that all of Scotland should be extremely proud of and the response from each and every person who has toured the site since it completion confirms that a truly world class facility has been delivered.
“Oriam will provide an inspirational environment for our top athletes and those who aspire to excel from across many sports, as well as within our local community by encouraging people to improve their fitness, take part in sport or simply enjoy a more active lifestyle.”
Aileen Campbell, Minister for Public Health and Sport, said, “The Scottish Government is proud to have been the majority funder for Oriam. It's tremendous news that this fantastic facility has been finished on time and on budget. I was delighted to take a look around the centre and to see the facilities first hand before it opens to the public. This is another world class sporting facility for Scotland that will benefit both our elite athletes and grassroots competitors. Scottish athletes have just had their most successful overseas Olympics and Oriam can only help us to build on that success in the years to come.”
Chair of sportscotland, Mel Young, said, “From the outset, our vision was to create a national performance centre where athletes, coaches and experts from a range of sports, could work together, learn from each other, and produce the next generation of Scottish athletes to perform successfully on the world stage. It was also our aim to deliver a world-class facility with community use at its heart, and that is exactly what has been realised here at Oriam.
“We know that creating the right environment to encourage people to take part in sport, at every level, is an essential part of building a sporting system and with the completion of Oriam, facilities in Scotland are the best they have ever been.”
Professor Richard A Williams, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt, said, “I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of Heriot-Watt University and all of the partners involved in Oriam to thank the Scottish Government for the opportunity to develop such a wonderful, nationally important sporting facility.
“Oriam will be the catalyst for all sports involved to achieve their own priorities as well as inspiring promising athletes to train in Scotland for years to come. It will also provide the local community, students and staff with the encouragement and opportunities to be more active, more often. Thank you to those of you here today, representing the sports that will be at the very heart of Oriam.”
Councillor Richard Lewis, the City of Edinburgh Council's Culture and Sport convener, said, “Oriam will provide an excellent national home to the next generation of top athletes and those involved in helping them achieve their aims, but crucially it will also support local rising stars and those who are still developing a passion for sport. The Edinburgh community and local sport groups will also be able to take advantage of this world-class facility on their doorstep and be inspired to get into sport.”
Featured in the image above, from left to right, are: Ann Marie Dalton, University Secretary; Stewart Harris. CEO sportscotland; Sheila Begbie, Head of Women and Girls' Rugby, Scottish Rugby; Stephen Gemmell ,Head of Academy & Performance Programmes, Scottish Rugby; Mel Young, Chair, sportscotland; Aileen Campbell, Minister for Public Health and Sport; Gordon Strachan, Scotland National Team Manager, Scottish FA; Stewart Regan, CEO Scottish FA; Stephen Neilson, CEO Scottish Handball; Maggie Still, CEO Scottish Squash;Professor Richard Williams, University Principal and Vice-Chancellor.