Launch of new adizone sports facility in Barry Island

Published  20 February 2012

The new AdiZone multi-sports area at Barry Island was officially opened on Saturday 18 February, by Vale of Glamorgan Council Leader Cllr. Gordon Kemp.

The all-weather AdiZone area, opposite the square and promenade off Paget Road, features 12 keep-fit equipment stations, a basketball area, football goal, tennis wall, a climbing wall and an open area for aerobics, dance and gymnastics.

Inspirational images of five of Great Britain’s top sports stars are depicted in the Adidas branded area, and the facility is open daily and will be floodlit until 9pm each evening. Local school children were among the first to put the colourful new equipment through its paces, and it is hoped that structured activity sessions will be held at the site at various times during the year.

Cllr. Kemp said: "The AdiZone aims to help people of all ages get active in the run up to the London 2012 Games and beyond. Barry Island is already an extremely popular place for people to go for a jog, walk their dogs, and play makeshift games of football, cricket and volleyball on the beach, while there are tennis, cricket and bowls clubs all nearby too. The addition of this new AdiZone facility gives families even more opportunities to take part in physical activities and the best thing of all is that it is completely free to use, making it accessible to all."

Transforming land that had been derelict for almost 30 years, the adiZone was built by the Vale of Glamorgan Council in partnership with the Great Outdoor Company. Funding was provided by the Welsh Government via the Barry Regeneration Fund and Section 106 money.

More than 50 AdiZones have now been installed across the UK, and are part of Olympic sponsor Adidas’ aim to create a legacy of sporting activity around the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.