Durham University rowers celebrate Iconic Facilities investment
The Minister for Sport and the Olympic, Hugh Robertson MP, today opened a new £6.7m sports facility at Durham University’s Graham Sports Centre – which includes a £1m powered Indoor Rowing tank.
The tank – one of three in the UK and the first in the North East – forms part of a new boat house, and is designed to simulate the movement and feel of a boat through the water.
The facility also boasts 28 indoor rowing machines, providing students, schools and community groups the opportunity to train, compete, or simply keep fit with Indoor Rowing.
‘Durham University has a strong sporting tradition and this new state-of-the-art centre will help confirm this in the years ahead,’ said Hugh Robertson. ‘This fantastic facility will provide world-class sports facilities for elite athletes and community users alike and help more people to take up sport.’
Iconic Facilities is part of the £135 million Places People Play legacy, ensuring that communities across the UK benefit from the OIympic and Paralympic Games.
Sports facilities that receive funding through the Iconic Facilities programme will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark – celebrating the link to the Games.
‘With a rich heritage of participation both within the University and the wider community, it’s fantastic to see Durham University build on this with the Graham Sports Centre,’ added Sport England Property Director Charles Johnston. ‘With funding from the Iconic Facilities fund, this state-of-the-art facility is helping us bring the inspiration and magic of a home Olympics into communities in the North and deliver a lasting legacy beyond London 2012.’
