It’s the first of its kind in Wales and now a top class sports facility is being officially opened at a Swansea comprehensive school.
The adiZone is an innovative multi-sports facility designed in the shape of the London 2012 logo that includes a large outdoor gym, a basketball and football area, a climbing wall, a tennis wall and a freestyle area for aerobics, dance and martial arts.
The official opening will take place on Tuesday May 10 with a demonstration from Swansea Storm Basketball Club, the 2012 young ambassadors from Swansea and pupils from Birchgrove School – the winners of 2010 dance festival.
Fun adiZones were created by adidas to help get more young people and families into sport and physical activity as part of the company’s sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The new facility will be open access and free to use by the whole community and there will also be programmed activities undertaken daily by Pentrehafod School.
The adiZone has been funded by Swansea Council and the Welsh Assembly Government.
Ian Beynon, Swansea Council’s Development and Outreach Manager, said: “Swansea is the first Local Authority in Wales to have an adiZone and the official launch will help raise awareness of the facility.
“The adiZone is pretty ground-breaking because it gives access to so many different types of sport and physical fitness. It will encourage young people to enjoy the fun of exercise and sport and will be a tremendously beneficial facility for both the school and the nearby community.”
Nick Craggs, Marketing Director for adidas UK & Ireland, said: “As a London 2012 sponsor, adidas believes it’s vitally important that free sporting facilities are made available and accessible if we are truly going to get the nation participating in sport. To date the installation of adiZones has brought groups of young people together to get involved in a variety of sports and improved community relations, echoing the legacy that the London 2012 Games hopes to achieve.”
A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said: “It’s hoped the Olympic Games will inspire a new generation of young people to take up sport and physical activity and having facilities like this on their doorstep will help ensure they can act on that inspiration.
“The adiZone will provide a fitting legacy for the community from the 2012 Olympic Games.”
Have a look at www.swansea.gov.uk/adizone for more information.
