£3 million 2012 legacy investment for West Midlands sports facilities

29th November 2011

Two stunning community sports facilities are to be created in Worcester and Telford after receiving £3 million of National Lottery funding from Sport England's Iconic Facilities Olympic legacy fund.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt, joined Sport England to make the announcement during an event at the University of Worcester.

"From sporting beginners to experts, everyone in the Telford and Worcester areas can now look forward to playing sport in world-class facilities," said Jennie Price, Sport England Chief Executive.

"This is an inspirational legacy that will improve lives in these communities for generations after the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Part of the £135 million Places People Play legacy programme, Iconic Facilities is bringing state-of-the-art sports facilities to communities across England.

"This £3 million investment will transform community sport in Worcester and Telford, helping to create a lasting sporting legacy from London's Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Jeremy Hunt, who was visiting the region as part of his nationwide '2012 tour'. "Sport England's Places People Play programme is a fantastic programme, bringing the magic of a home Olympic Games into communities across the country."

The University of Worcester has received £1.5 million to transform a derelict site into the Worcester Community Sports Arena, which will offer:

A new 12-court sports hall that will be a thriving sports hub for students, the local community and sports governing bodies
A welcoming home for local sports clubs in basketball, netball, badminton, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing and blind football
A centre of excellence for disability sport.
"The Worcester Arena will provide outstanding new opportunities to engage in sport," said Professor David Green, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Worcester. "Inclusive by design, we hope it will become 'home from home' for many athletes with a mobility impairment. We are delighted that Sport England has chosen to make this coveted £1.5 million Iconic Facilities award to the Worcester Arena. The University will ensure that this funding and facility is imaginatively used to promote sport, inclusion and education."

Dawley Sports and Learning Community will also receive £1.5 million to help bring to life Telford and Wrekin Council's vision for:

A new eight-court sports hall, health and fitness suite and national standard BMX outdoor track
A new artificial grass pitch and high-quality grass sports pitches
A major regional base for cycling, rugby league and table tennis
Co-location of sport with education and health services and improved school and club links.
Councillor Arnold England, Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet member for Leisure and Wellbeing, welcomed the funding from Sport England. "I am delighted at the news that Telford & Wrekin Council will be receiving this money and it is a real boost for our plans for the Dawley Learning Community," he said. "It will mean that we can create fabulous sporting facilities at the new site for use by both school pupils and the local community."

Sport England is currently inviting bids to the second £10 million funding round of Iconic Facilities, which will support multi-sport facilities that help increase participation and deliver a sustainable sporting legacy beyond 2012.

"This is a fantastic funding project that will deliver a real legacy from the London 2012 Games," said Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair. "It will provide a whole range of sporting opportunities for young people through improved facilities and will I hope inspire them to take up sport."

"We hope that lots of people will be inspired to take up sport by ParalympicsGB's performance next year," said Tim Hollingsworth, British Paralympic Association CEO. "Facilities such as these will be a vital way of meeting that demand."

Places People Play is being delivered by Sport England. We are working in partnership with the British Olympic Association (BOA) and the British Paralympic Association (BPA) with the backing of The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the London 2012 Inspire mark.

Find out more about Iconic Facilities and how to apply.