A £7m gymnastics and martial arts training facility is being planned to sit next to Birmingham Alexander Stadium. Cllr Ray Hassall, cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture at Birmingham City Council, said: “This will be a world-class sports facility for residents of Birmingham. It will have the advantage of being built to Olympic training standards, so that the city will be at an advantage when it comes to marketing itself as a base for teams in 2012.” Due to open in September 2008, it will offer floor space for rhythmic and artistic gymnastics, pommel horses, ring frames, asymmetric bars, parallel bars and trampolines, whereas the martial arts facilities will provide a dojo and two further combat areas for judo, aikido, wrestling, karate, kendo, ju-jitsu and aerobics practice. And it will also have that all-important green factor – the roof will be made from planted materials for additional ecological insulation. For more sport & leisure news...
