i. Background to "Campus" concept
ii. National Coaching and Training Centre, Limerick
iii. Examples of international models
iv. Possible facilities to be provided on the Campus of Sporting Excellence
v. Conclusion
(i) Background to "Campus" concept
9.2
As mentioned in Section 5, the Campus of Sporting Excellence concept
emerged from our consultation with the non-stadium based sporting organisations.
The telephone survey indicated a real interest among sporting organisations
for the National Stadium concept to go beyond the provision of a large seat
capacity stadium, and become a focus for development and achievement in Irish
sport. Further consultations indicated that this broader campus concept could
incorporate the National Stadium and a number of additional ancillary facilities.
9.3
This wider vision suggests a campus style facility, catering for as many
types of sports as possible and including, for example, sports for people with
disabilities. The Campus of Sporting Excellence concept would
essentially be a national facility for our emerging and established athletes,
with the appropriate infrastructure and sports-related services to cater for
as many sports as possible and would include a National Stadium as an inspirational
focal point.
(ii) National Coaching and Training Centre
9.4
The NCTC was established in 1991. It is located on the campus of the University
of Limerick and works closely with over 60 NGBs in Ireland. The aim of the NCTC
is to assist in raising the standards of coaching and training of coaches and
to provide specialised training for elite sports persons by providing a structured
coaching system, a comprehensive sports science programme and optimal training
facilities.
9.5
The main tasks of the centre involve working with coaches and athletes with
a view to improving standards of coaching and performance. The centre also provides
an Information Service which ensures that access to the most up-to-date research
practice is available to all. 1
1 Page 2 3
Research is also undertaken at the Centre, focusing on aspects of coaching and
performance.
9.6
It is important that the proposed Campus of Sporting Excellence would
not duplicate the very important work done in the NCTC. Further research and
consultation with the NCTC should be undertaken to ensure the Campus will complement
and supplement those services currently provided in Limerick.
9.7
The NCTC provides certain residential training facilities to elite high
performance athletes. However, based on our consultation with the NCTC and preliminary
research in the Campus concept, it is apparent that there is a need for a 'high
volume training facility' to be provided in Ireland. It is expected that the
Campus of Sporting Excellence could fulfil this equally important role.
(iii) Examples of international models
9.8
Research indicates that other countries have adopted various forms of this
Campus of Sporting Excellence model, whereby many different sports are
accommodated in one area. Below we profile three such international models.
a. Australian Institute of Sport
b. Olympic Park, Munich
c. Estadio Jose Alevade
(a) Australian Institute of Sport
9.9
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) was opened in Canberra on 26 th January 1981, and its objectives are to:
. enhance the sporting performances of Australia's elite and potential elite
athletes and teams;
. enhance the personal, educational and vocational development opportunities
for elite athletes; and
. improve the efficiency and effectiveness of national level sporting agencies.
9.10
The AIS provides facilities and assistance for elite athletes, including
access to high performance coaches, strength and conditioning programmes, nutritional
advice, and career and education guidance. The AIS complex in Canberra is a
unique complex of international sporting facilities with a world class sport
science and sports medicine facility and accommodation for over 350 resident
and visiting athletes.
9.11
The complex, located on a 65 hectare site, includes purpose-built training
facilities for the following sports: 2
2 Page 3 4
. athletics basketball
. gymnastics
. road cycling
. volleyball
. soccer
. swimming
. tennis
9.12
The above sports are catered for by the following facilities:
. Bruce Outdoor Stadium (seating capacity of 25,000)
. Athletics Field (international standard with spectator accommodation)
. Indoor Swimming Centre -consists of a 50m pool of Olympic standard which can
be divided for water polo, training and a 25m short course venue. There is also
a separate 25m training pool and spectator accommodation.
. AIS Arena -includes a timber parquetry cushioned playing floor of 54m x
35m with an unencumbered height of 12. 5m, providing for either three basketball
or netball courts, nine badminton courts or an indoor soccer or hockey pitch.
The centre is used for a variety of national and international sporting events
and is also a popular entertainment venue with seating for up to 5,200.
. Gymnastics Hall -world class facility for both men's and women's gymnastics.
. All-weather outdoor pitches -used for soccer and hockey
. Tennis complex
. Sports Training Facility -provides training courts for basketball and netball,
general training and conditioning room, and a 361 seat theatre which is used
for weightlifting competition and a conference facility.
9.13
Other facilities provided in the AIS campus include:
. Sports Science & Medicine Facility -houses the sciences of psychology,
biochemistry, biomechanics and physiology as well as a physiotherapy department
and a medical treatment area.
. Sports Information Centre
. Residences -provides 250 study bedrooms for athletes, short-stay accommodation
for up to 50 athletes and 19 flats for married athletes and visitors to AIS.
The residential area includes study, recreational and laundry facilities as
well as a fully catered dining room for athletes and visitors.
(b) Olympic Park, Munich
9.14 3
3 Page 4 5
The Olympic Park in Munich, specifically built for the 1972 Olympic Games, is
capable of accommodating over 70 different kinds of sport. Several thousand
sporting, cultural and commercial events have been staged, from international,
European and German championships to pop concerts and shows, from classical
concerts, opera performances and folk festivals to exhibitions and conventions.
9.15
The administration of this facility was assigned by the City of Munich to
the Olympiapark Munchen GmbH, a subsidiary corporation of the city. It is the
corporation's responsibility to run the public Olympic Park as an event, leisure
and recreation centre, as well as to maintain the grounds, including the paths,
streets and bridges.
9.16
The facilities provided in the Olympic Park include the following:
. Olympic Stadium
Capacity: 69,250, of which 11,800 is standing Measurements: 260m lengthways, 250m diagonally
Interior: Playing field 105m x 68m 400m 8-lane athletics track
. Olympic Hall:
Capable of accommodating events such as tennis competitions, European
Basketball Championships, World Ice Hockey Championships, concerts and familyshows.
Capacity: 11,850 seated; up to 13,500 unseated Enclosed area: 427,300 cubic metres
. Small Olympic Hall:
Multi-purpose hall used as an independent facility, and also as a connected
auxiliary arena when major events are taking place in the Olympic Hall. The
hall can be divided into three separate areas which increases its flexibility.
Capacity: 1,000 seated; 1,500 unseated
. Olympic Swimming Hall:
This swimming hall, with its five pools, is capable of accommodating both international competitions and leisure-oriented users.
Maximum height: 50m Competition pool: 21 x 50m
Diving pool: 21 x 20m Training pool: 12.5 x 50m
Instruction pool: 17 x 8m Warm-up pool: 48 sq. metres (semicircular)
. Olympic Ice Sport Centre:
Ice Stadium Ice skating pavilion Training Hall
Capacity 6,054 -600 Length 94.52m 87m 78.5m
Width 60m 64m 35m Height 12m 15m 13m
Ice surface 30 x 60m 45 x 60m 30 x 60m
. Werner Von Linde Hall
Houses an indoor track and is used for training purposes by top athletes, as well as students and amateur athletes.
Capacity: 1,850 Measurements: 90 x 50m
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6
Clearance height: 5.5m Enclosed area: 34,800
Facilities: 200m long racing circuit with banked curves 6 x 60m sprinting tracks
(c) Estadio Jose Alevade
9.17
The Estadio Jose Alevade, situated on the outskirts of central Lisbon is
the home of Sporting Lisbon. When constructing the Stadium in 1956, the club
wished to provide a showpiece sporting venue for the city. The Stadium was designed
to accommodate 75,000 people all seated and provision was made underneath the
stands for a range of other sports facilities,
including, roller hockey, boxing, judo and gymnastics.
9.18
Sporting Lisbon has approximately 70,000 sports and athletic club members.
Membership is drawn from the city of Lisbon and surrounding regions and is divided
into either members of specific sports clubs or ordinary members permitted to
use a number of club facilities. The main objective of the sports programmes
which are offered by the club is to facilitate the development of teams and
individuals capable of competing in sports at a national and international level.
9.19
The facilities offered by Sporting Lisbon to club members include the following:
. Stadium pitch;
. athletics track;
. eleven gymnasia;
. table tennis room (8 tables);
. basketball/ handball courts;
. roller skating rink;
. shooting area.
. club room;
. food and beverage units;
. massage room;
. beauty salon;
. retail units;
. residential dormitory;
9.20
The Estadio Jose Alevade illustrates the range and scope of facilities that
can be included in a Stadium development through utilisation of available space
beneath stands and sub division of floors to create different sizes and shapes
of rooms.
(iv) Possible facilities to be provided on the Campus of Sporting
Excellence 5
5 Page 6 7
9.21
Facilities such as the international models described above do not currently
exist in Ireland. While the NCTC in Limerick works with athletes, coaches and
sports organisations to improve standards in coaching and performance within
Irish sport, we understand that it does not actually provide the various training
facilities which can be used by the NGBs on an on-going regular basis.
9.22
The following infrastructural requirements of the Campus of Sporting
Excellence were highlighted by the NGBs in their submissions to the consultants.
None of these facilities are currently provided in the NCTC, except where indicated.
Therefore, the facilities in the Campus of Sporting Excellence would complement
and enhance those services currently provided by the NCTC.
a. Office / Administration Facilities: While a number of the
NGBs are adequately provided for in the House of Sport, Longmile Road, many
NGBs indicated their support for the provision of office facilities on
the site of the Campus of Sporting Excellence. Cross fertilisation of ideas
and economies of scale were cited as advantages of such central administrative
headquarters. A central administrative/ head office location such as this would
be consistent with the strategies recommended in the Department of Education
document, "Sport in Ireland 1997 – 2006 and Beyond".
b. Multi-purpose Halls: These would primarily be used by the
national governing bodies for training purposes, catering for the maximum possible
number of sports. The facilities could also be opened to the public during certain
periods to maximise utilisation and encourage community access to the campus.
There is a need for the NGBs to utilise world class training facilities more
often than the three times a year that they would use the NCTC. A high volume
training facility is required as opposed to the low volume, but high performance
training facilities provided in Limerick.
c. Indoor Tennis Facility: The facility would comprise four
indoor courts offering a range of playing surfaces and would be used for training
purposes by Tennis Ireland. Again, there is a need for high volume tennis training
facilities in Ireland, whereby national squads can have access to international
standard training. This facility would be wholly compatible and complementary
to the low volume, high performance tennis training centre which is proposed
for the NCTC.
d. Medical and Sports Science Facilities: These facilities should
complement and supplement the existing facilities provided in the National Coaching
& Training
Centre, Limerick. It was proposed that these facilities could house the sciences
of psychology, biochemistry, biomechanics and physiology as well as a physiotherapy
department and a medical treatment area. It should be noted, however, that medical
and sports science facilities are currently provided in Dublin at Trinity College
which form part of the national network of sports medical facilities co-ordinated
by the NCTC. It is therefore recommended that more research be undertaken to
understand the exact requirements of the NGBs in this regard.
e. Multi Sport Dome: The multi sport dome should be capable of
accommodating between 10,000 and 15, 000 spectators, depending on the configuration
of the dome of various sporting requirements. Based on our discussions with
the NGBs, it is envisaged that this facility would be used primarily for competitive
purposes. In
contrast to the other Campus facilities mentioned above, the multi sport dome
would have the potential, we believe, to be operated on a commercial basis.
Events such as 6
6 Page 7 8
European Basketball and Ice Hockey Leagues; small to medium scale concerts;
and family shows such as "Disney on Ice" could be proactively attracted to the
facility. In addition to the commercially driven events which could be held
in the Dome, it is envisaged that the facility would also be used by many of
the Irish sporting organisations for competitive purposes. Some examples of
utilisation highlighted by the NGBs are discussed below.
Irish Basketball indicated in their submission that they have a number of current and potential competitions which would be enhanced by such a facility:
. The National Basketball Cup is currently too large an event for the National
Basketball Arena and will require a higher capacity arena within the next few
years.
. Plans are currently being developed to form a "European Super League" which
would have a franchise in all major European capital cities. Minimum seating
capacity for entrance to the league is 8,000 to 10,000.
. Irish Basketball has been approached in relation to putting a team in the
current Northern European Basketball League, which is fully professional. Minimum
seating capacity to enter a team in this league is 6,000.
Based on our discussions with BLÉ, it is considered appropriate that the Multi
Sport Dome should be able to accommodate an athletics track. This removable
track could potentially be used for indoor athletics events in the same way
as the National Indoor Arena (NIA) in Birmingham caters for athletics events
with the provision of a six-lane 200 metre athletics track, which is dismantled
and stored away when not in use. BLÉ indicated that it would consider using
such a facility for those major Irish events that take place during January
and February, i. e. National Adult Championships, National Junior Championships,
National Veteran Championships and the Irish School Championships.
Other NGBs which highlighted their organisation's need for an indoor event centre for competition purposes include:
. Tennis Ireland
. Badminton Union of Ireland
. Equestrian Federation of Ireland
. Republic of Ireland Netball Association
. Volleyball Association of Ireland
. Irish Amateur Wrestling Association
While it is expected that the multi-purpose dome would be utilised by the NGBs,
we believe that the main source of revenue will be earned from entertainment
events such as concerts and family shows.
f. Training and Lecture Facilities
g. Velodrome
h. Rifle and Pistol Shooting Facility
i. Ice Hockey Arena
7
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j. Aquatic Centre (Note 1)
Note 1: The location of an aquatic centre should be reviewed in the light of the Government announcement that the 50 metre swimming pool would be
located in Limerick.
(v) Conclusion
9.23
In summary, therefore, the proposals emerging from the sporting community
strongly support the concept that the Campus of Sporting Excellence should
have the appropriate infrastructure to cater for as many sports as possible
and should include a National Stadium as an inspirational focal point. Due to
capital funding constraints in providing this infrastructure, it may not be
possible to cater for all sports immediately, but rather, a phased approach
may be considered more appropriate. The first phase might include the Stadium
itself, the medical and sports science facilities, office/ administration facilities
for the NGBs, training facilities and certain infrastructural items which are
capable of being housed within the Stadium (i. e. beneath the stands). However,
it is recommended that a separate market study be completed for the multi sport
dome in order to determine the exact requirements of both the Irish sporting
requirements and those of international sporting event and concert promoters.
9.24
Initial estimates indicate that capital investment of IR£ 51 million is
required for the construction of the indoor event centre/ multi-sport dome;
the multi-purpose halls; indoor tennis facility, and sport science and medical
centre.
9.25
In Section 1, a site plan setting out, by way of illustration only, the
location of the campus and the Stadium is provided.
9.26
The operational aspects of running the campus are not included in the financial estimates in Section 6.
9.27
The concept of a Campus of Sporting Excellence only emerged during
the process of examining the feasibility of the National Stadium itself and,
therefore, additional research and examination of the concept is recommended.
We believe that such a campus should be focused on quality training facilities
for high volume usage. This would complement the specialist positioning of the
NCTC in the provision of sports infrastructure and related coaching and medical
services to coaches and elite sports people.
9.28
It would also be important that more consultation between the main stakeholders
takes place – the Government, the National Sports Council, NCTC and the many
NGBs – in order to scope out in more detail the infrastructural requirements
and demand / usage patterns. 8