The opening of the $1.6 million Centre of Excellence
redevelopment in Christchurch last week is part of the
co-operative approach taken to sport in the South Island,
Academy of Sport South Island chief executive Keryn Smith
says.
The centre is housed at the QEII complex, and is one of two
Sparc centres of excellence, the other being the Millennium
Institute in Auckland.
The centre has been established as a joint venture between
the Christchurch City Council and the Dunedin-based New
Zealand Academy of Sport South Island.
The development has included the expansion of training and
Paralympic facilities.
The Christchurch City Council and the Canterbury Community
Trust have provided funding for the project.
Ms Smith said the academy had always had a dual base, with
administration and headquarters in Dunedin and training
facilities in Christchurch.
In no way was the new centre set up in competition with the
facilities in Dunedin.
"We have been quite relaxed in how these two facilities
complement each other," she said.
The Christchurch centre was strong in sports such as
triathlons, bowls, Paralympics and cricket, while Dunedin's
was more based around the bike, winter sports and athletics.
Dunedin also had links with technology, research and
innovation.
She said there had to be a collaborative approach in the
South Island as the bulk of athletes in New Zealand were in
the upper North Island.
Features of the new centre in Christchurch include a recovery
facility, hot and cold pools, a three-lane 100m indoor track
and an enlarged area for weight training.
National sports organisations using the facility are
Triathlon New Zealand, Bowls New Zealand, Paralympics New
Zealand, Bike New Zealand and the Winter Performance
Programme.
Some of New Zealand's top triathletes, athletes, cyclists and
swimmers base themselves in Christchurch and use QEII as
their training base.
New Zealand coaches based at QEII include John Hellemans and
Greg Fraine (triathalon), Tim Carswell (cycling), Dave
Edwards (bowls) and Andrew Maclennan (athletics).
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