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€9M Boost with Go-Ahead for High-Performance Indoor Facility at CIT

Indoor High-Performance Athletics Facility at CIT has been Approved


proposed cit indoor athletics july 2019

 

 

This morning, Friday January 10th, Tánaiste, Simon Coveney T.D., announced approval of €9M funding for the facility. The total cost of the project is €22.9M, with Stream 2 of Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund providing the €9.225M grant, and the balance coming from the stakeholders in CIT; CIT, Cork City Council and Cork County Council

 


"Athletics Ireland & Cork Institute of Technology Community Sport Project Cork City: Construction & operation of a high performance athletics indoor training facility. Resurfacing of the existing outdoor track. €9,225,000"

Athletics Ireland Release

 

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Release

 

Full Allocation Listing (PDF File)

 
(From Last July)

An application has been made for Funding is being sought under the Department of Transport, Sport and Tourism’s Large Scale Infrastructure Fund (LLSIF). The complete development includes a two-storey multi-purpose sports arena, located south of the existing outdoor Athletics Track and will comprise eight courts, fitness studios, a health and fitness facility, along with dressing rooms.

The Athletics Ireland extension will add an indoor running track, pole vault and jump facilities to the new complex.

 

hamish adams

Hamish Adams, CEO, Athletics Ireland

 

When the inital application was announced, last July, Hamish Adams, CEO of Athletics Ireland said that the facility would be a “massive boost” for athletics, and sport in general, in Cork.

“We’ve got an application in for €12.3m funding for a project we want to develop in conjunction with CIT”

“CIT is proceeding with a new gym, in the next few months, and we want to extend that to include a new sports hall, pole vault area, long jump and high jump areas, and a running track. It’s a huge development and it would be a massive boost for sport in Cork, not only athletics but all sport within the college and the local community”

Timing

The works are likey to commence very soon, with completion by the autumn, though the timeline has yet to be agreed. The long awaited lighting upgrade at the track is likely to go ahead in parallel with this, though the top end of the track, where the venue is most in need - 1 or more lights are out of action there - is probably not going to be done until later in the year, as the lighting towers there will probably be removed to facilitate construction of the new Indoor Facility

 

Update 16:30, Friday January 10th 2019

The grant includes the long awaited Track Re-Surfacing.  The track was last resurfaced twenty years ago, in 2001. It was planned to close for six (6) weeks then, however persistent adverse weather led to the track being closed for eleven (11) months. Lets hope things go better this time round!

cit track and standCIT Track and Spectator Stand

One of the factors leading to surface water remaining on the track was the lack of/insufficient drainage around the track. In particular, water run-off from the spectator embankments, led to silting up of the track crumb, which is designed to be self-draining, and consequential retention of water on the track.  In turn, the retained moisture frequently iced/frosted up during cold weather. Thankfully, the planned resurfacing includes improved drainage on both sides, infield and spectator sides, of the track.


Athletics Ireland Release

Athletics Ireland and Cork Institute of Technology awarded €9.22 million to support the development of a new indoor community sports facility.

Athletics Ireland and Cork Institute of Technology are delighted to receive the news today that their joint application to the Large Scale Sports Infrastructural Fund has been successfully awarded €9.22 million to support the development of a new indoor community and high performance sports facility at CIT.

This large indoor athletics facility which will complement the development of the new CIT Arena with the addition of indoor sprints, pole vault and jumps and associated facilities. The complete development includes a two-storey multi-purpose sports arena, located south of the existing outdoor Athletics Track and will comprise eight courts, fitness studios, a health and fitness facility, along with dressing rooms, seminar and social facilities.

Hamish Adams the Athletics Ireland CEO describes the announcement as strategically a huge step forward in the development of not only athletics in Cork but for sport in the region. “This investment by government will deliver huge benefits for the sporting community in the Southern region. The exciting plans we have for this facility in conjunction with CIT will create opportunities for all.”

Dr Barry O’Connor, President of CIT, adds “We are delighted to announce this development which will be a massive boost for not only athletics, but all sport in Cork, the surrounding community, and across Munster generally. We look forward to working with Athletics Ireland in ensuring this facility will help to inspire future generations of athletes for many years to come. This investment combined with the commitment of €12million of our own resources to the new CIT Arena will result in over €22 million state of the art sports resource for Cork Institute of Technology, which, as always, will be shared with the sports community across Munster. The recent opening of the Kerry Sports Academy by our MTU partners IT Tralee will complement developments here in Bishopstown and will secure the Munster Technological University as a unique resource for ensuring sport and wellness are to the fore in our new technological university. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the many athletics clubs and sporting organisations in the development of this exciting proposal and look forward to ever increased participation and national and international successes of our sporting talent.”




All in all, a good day for Athletics in Cork!



Related Article

New High-Performance Indoor Facility Proposed for CIT

 

 

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Cork Athletics County Board is a constituent member of Athletics Ireland. Cork Athletics is the governing body, administering athletics, track and field (T&F), cross-country (XC) and running in county Cork. The Board comprises elected representatives of constituent athletic clubs and running clubs. Cork County Board AAI organises Championship races and competition, including road, track & field (T&F) and Cross-country (XC), at junior, juvenile, senior and masters levels, and selects representation for the county. In addition, training and education is provided for coaches and officials. The Board also regulates the Athletics Ireland race/event permit (licence) process for county Cork.
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