Great Britain’s most-decorated female Olympian was given a tour of the training, fitness and wellbeing facilities at the heart of the campus.
The facility features a six lane, 25 metre swimming pool, dance studio, gym, sports halls, squash courts and specialist health facilities, including four consultation and treatment rooms. Since the centre was completed it has already driven up levels of sports participation on the campus dramatically, as well as attracting strong interest from professional sports bodies.
Dame Katherine, who unveiled a plaque, said: “I am delighted to officially open this wonderful new sports centre at the University of Strathclyde.
“As someone who took up rowing while at university I know the benefits of having sports facilities like this available on campus.
“The facilities at Strathclyde are first-rate and it is great to see the university place an emphasis, not just on supporting student teams, grassroots sports and performance athletes, but also on providing health, wellbeing and fitness for the whole university community and wider public.”
The Strathclyde Sport building is part of a wider £950 million investment in Strathclyde’s estate through to 2022 and will support health and wellbeing for the entire university – as well as the local community – and enhances the quality of the Strathclyde student experience.
The centre, which runs more than 50 fitness classes per week, also offers lifestyle and nutrition consultations, health assessments and fitness classes for older people and individuals recovering from illness or injury.
In addition, it offers support for student athletes in the High Performance Sport Programme.
Thanks to a pioneering strategic partnership with the sport’s national governing body, Netball Scotland, the facility will also be a regular training ground and event venue for the Scottish Thistles, Scotland’s national senior netball team.
The partnership also takes in Netball Scotland’s Superleague team, the University of Strathclyde Sirens, to support the development of team and of the sport both at Strathclyde and across Scotland.
The university has also teamed up with the Glasgow Warriors to promote the growth of its rugby programme and bring the benefits of professional coaching to the Strathclyde rugby teams.
Professor Sir Jim McDonald said: “We were delighted that Dame Katherine could officially open this fantastic new sector-leading facility which was supported through generous donations from our alumni family.
“Since opening its doors, Strathclyde Sport has proven to be hugely popular and will play a massive part in supporting the fitness, health and wellbeing of our staff, students and wider community, as well as supporting grassroots sports development through our partnerships with Netball Scotland the Strathclyde Sirens and the Glasgow Warriors.”
Alex Brock, president of the Sports Union and vice-president for Sports & Wellbeing at StrathUnion, said: “The opening of the new Strathclyde Sport facility has been greatly welcomed by all students.
“In terms of impact on performance, we have a number of teams now eligible to compete in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Premier Leagues, six teams in Scottish Conference Cup Finals and one team playing in the BUCS Trophy Final event following successful seasons – all of which have benefited from the vast improvements to our facilities.
“Strathclyde has also been successful in returning with the Glasgow Taxis Cup – Scotland’s biggest University Varsity – for the first time since 2010 from Glasgow University and Glasgow Caledonian University.
“In terms of recreational opportunities and wellbeing, Strathclyde Sport staff can attest to the sheer increase in volume of attendees to the Strathclyde Sport facility.
“Students studying for exams and coursework are very appreciative of the short distance between the library and the Strathclyde Sport facility; there has been a notable and healthy change across campus that can only improve individual physical health, mental health and wellbeing.”
The centre was built by Graham Construction with the support of major donors, including Moffat Charitable Trust, Robert Barr’s Charitable Trust, Dr Jack Dunlop, Gordon Presley, the Peter Harrison Foundation, the Estate of Thomas Edgar and the University of Strathclyde Alumni Fund.
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