September 21/06 11:13 am - New Multisport Facility Proposed for Victoria

Posted by Editoress on 09/21/06
 

Submitted by Dr. Wayne Walker, Victoria, B.C.

The West Shore Parks and Recreation Commission Wednesday unveiled its vision for a new multisport facility that will include Canada's only 250 m. indoor velodrome. The proposal includes a 10,000 seat outdoor stadium with an adjoining multisport field house that would include a 250m. wooden track built to international competition standards.

This is an historic day for cycling and particularly track cycling in Canada, and the location, West Shore of Victoria, B.C., is particularly suited to this facility as part of the Pacific Sport National training center. The proposal involves utilizing the current Commonwealth Games legacy 333 m. outdoor concrete velodrome location for a 10,000 seat stadium, with shared faciities adjoining a multisport field house with 500 seats for spectators surrounding the velodrome. The total cost of the field house is projected at 9 million dollars and the fundraising has been handed over to the West Shore Economic Development Association, which will assist user groups in procuring funding.

This exciting project is a great opportunity for our sport to advance and will require support from cycling organizations across the country. The opportunity to train year round in a controlled environment, as well as to develop track riders specifically - in a discipline that Canada has had great international success - will be a tremendous benefit to our competitive development programs and is needed to catapult our riders to the next level of success. The Greater Victoria Velodrome Association looks forward to the completion of this project and is dedicated to doing everything necessary to see it to fruition.