A £33m (US$43.6m, €38.7m) sporting facility in Scotland is set to open next week (Monday 29 August, 2016) at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh campus.
The national sports performance centre has been backed by £24m (US$31.7m, €28.1m) from the Scottish Government and £9m (US$11.9m, €10.5m) from partners, sportscotland, Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh City Council. The partners include the Scottish FA, Scottish Rugby, Basketball Scotland, Netball Scotland, Scottish Handball, sportscotland Institute of Sport and Scottish Squash and Racquetball.
The new multi-purpose development aims to be a collaborative environment to support Scotland’s up-and-coming sports men and women, their coaches and volunteers, to train and prepare for competition at the highest levels. The centre will also welcome students, staff, the local community and nearby sports groups.
Facilities include a Hampden Park standard grass pitch, an outdoor synthetic pitch, four outdoor natural grass football pitches, two rugby pitches, a 12-court sports hall, a 3G indoor pitch, a 120-station fitness suite, a café and private dining area.
Other facilities on the site include a four-court sports hall with climbing wall, two newly developed exercise studios, eight squash courts, including Scotland’s only glass back show court, video analysis facilities, an indoor 3G synthetic pitch, The Heart of Midlothian Football Academy and a jogging course.
Catriona McAllister, Oriam’s chief executive, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Oriam is ready to open after all partners helped to deliver the project on time and on budget.
“It is now all about the sports and delivering that platform both for national excellence and local participation. Oriam is something that all of Scotland should be extremely proud of and the response from each and every person who has toured the site since it completion confirms that a truly world class facility has been delivered.”
Aileen Campbell, minister for Public Health and Sport, said: “This is another world class sporting facility for Scotland that will benefit both our elite athletes and grassroots competitors. Scottish athletes have just had their most successful overseas Olympics and Oriam can only help us to build on that success in the years to come.”
Mel Young, sportscotland chair, said: “We know that creating the right environment to encourage people to take part in sport, at every level, is an essential part of building a sporting system and with the completion of Oriam, facilities in Scotland are the best they have ever been.”
