Official launch for Lilleshall National Sports Centre's £6.9m revamp
[gallery] The sports centre that helped the UK's top gymnasts and archers reach Olympic and Paralympic glory was officially opened today after £6.9 million refurbishments.
Improvements to Lilleshall National Sports Centre will further enhance the centre's reputation.
Today the Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson, joined Sport England and members of the local sporting community to formally cut the ribbon at the new facilities.
Lilleshall is home to British Gymnastics and Archery GB, including the likes of Beth Tweddle and Alison Williamson, as well as the English Institute of Sport and the Battle Back Centre for wounded soldiers.
It is not unusual to see an Olympic medal winner walking around the leafy grounds.
But Lilleshall also opens up its world class facilities to the community, including more than 80 local sports clubs.
Mr Robertson said: "These fantastic new worldclass facilities at Lilleshall will support the preparations of our top athletes as we look to keep up the momentum from London 2012.
"By opening them up to community use they'll also encourage sports participation in the region and help us deliver a sporting legacy from last summer's Games."
The extensive work started last year and was completed recently.
The improvements include a new five-court sports hall for an array of sports, including indoor hockey, basketball, badminton, table tennis, netball, volleyball and archery.
Just a stone's throw away there is a new changing pavilion for the two artificial pitches as well as on-site first aid and physiotherapy. The existing sports hall has been revamped so that it can be used for wheelchair basketball, badminton, volleyball, netball and futsal, a form of football.
