The sportscotland National Sports Training Centre Inverclyde in Largs will open its doors to the public following a major £12million redevelopment funded by Scottish Government and sportscotland.

The stunning building is the first of its kind in the UK, providing a residential sports training centre designed with inclusivity in mind.

Inverclyde will open on Monday 3 April providing world-class indoor and outdoor sports facilities and accommodation for users of all levels of physical and sensory ability from schools and clubs, to performance athletes and the local community.

Ahead of the opening, Sports Minister, Aileen Campbell, said: “The sportscotland National Sports Training Centre Inverclyde will be an exceptional facility for sportspeople from all across the country, as well as having strong community links here in Largs.  I am really impressed by the attention to detail in the accommodation and wider facilities that complement the sports provision in the centre. 

“It’s wonderful to see it ready to open and to hear how sportscotland are going to maximise the use of the centre for all.  Facilities like Inverclyde, and the recently opened Oriam, are not just for elite athletes, they have been designed to ensure that communities can benefit too.

Largs and Millport Weekly News:

“Scottish Government is very pleased and proud to have invested in Inverclyde, which is another example of the wide range of facilities we now have the length and breadth of the country.”

Commonwealth Games judo gold medallist, Graeme Randall, is one of the senior team at Inverclyde, and a local resident.  He was delighted to have the opportunity to showcase the facilities on offer.

Graeme, a sportscotland lead manager, said:  “Right from the start of this project we have worked hard with our partners across sport, education, local authorities and the local community to deliver a national centre that will be inclusive and inspiring.  Morrison, the main contractors on the project, have helped us to deliver an incredible facility to fulfil that ambition.

Largs and Millport Weekly News:

“While generations of Scotland’s best athletes have trained here over the years, at Inverclyde we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to participate and progress in sport.  The environment, facilities and expertise we have here make this a reality and we can’t wait to welcome our guests to the centre when we open on Monday.”

The Scottish Cerebral Palsy/ Stroke / Acquired Brain Injury Squad  will be one of the first groups to train at the newly redeveloped centre and Paralympian and Scotland CP football vice captain, Martin Hickman was very impressed with what the centre has to offer. 

He said:  “Having an inclusive centre like Inverclyde is going to be of huge benefit to our team and our sport. 

“The facilities are amazing from the equipment in the gym to the standard of the accommodation – it’s better than some hotels we have stayed in!

“This is an ideal place for us to come together as a team, allowing us to focus fully on our training knowing that everything we need has been thought about and catered for.”

Inverclyde is not just a performance training centre, its doors are open to everyone and one of the key groups set to benefit  is schools and the wider education community.

Primary 6/7 pupils from Cumbrae Primary were on site today to try out the facilities for the first time.  Supported by their Active Schools co-ordinator, Natalie Murray, S6 pupils from Largs Academy ran sport taster sessions for the Cumbrae pupils.

Active Schools Co-ordinator Natalie Murray said: “It is fantastic to have a centre like this right on our doorstep, and to be able to use it to encourage more children to be physically active through Active Schools makes my job a whole lot easier.

“The pupils have been so excited to come and see the new centre and to try out some of the many sports and activities on offer.  I’m sure they will all be inspired to keep coming back and make sport a part of their daily lives.”