Scotland

Going for gold: Glasgow National Hockey Centre

Located immediately beside Glasgow Green Football Centre, the National Hockey Centre will see athletes from around the world battle for gold when the city hosts the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Works on the £5.5million sports complex are now progressing well with the steel framework of the building taking shape.

When complete the main building at the centre will have 500 seats in its grandstand, although there will be 5,000 seats in total at the Commonwealth Games, with a further 4,500 spectator places created as a result of temporary stands erected for the Hockey competition in 2014.

The centre will also feature two new FIH (Federation International de Hockey) standard water-based Floodlit Synthetic Hockey Pitches, with changing accommodation to serve as the Hockey competition and warm up facilities during the Games.

Works are scheduled to be should be completed by summer, a year before thousands of competitors jet in to Glasgow for one of the world’s greatest sporting events.

In addition to providing a spectacular venue for the Games, the new facility will also provide a new national centre for hockey, together with offices for Scottish Hockey.

Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, said:

“Glasgow National Hockey Centre will be a significant addition to the city’s outstanding range of sporting facilities, helping to develop hockey through the building of an international-class venue.

“During the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, this venue will provide the opportunity to see some of the world’s finest teams compete!

“I am looking forward to the centre opening next year and the creation of another sporting legacy for Glasgow.”

The centre is expected to feature some gladiatorial battles when the Games begin. Several Commonwealth countries are among the best in the world when it comes to the sport.

In the global men’s ranking, Australia currently has the second top team followed by England in fourth, Pakistan in fifth and New Zealand in sixth. In the women’s category, New Zealand is ranked third, England fourth and Australia sixth.

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