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).
