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Call to save stadium where Ennis and Coe trained Call to save stadium where Ennis and Coe trained
(7 months later)
The government and Lord Coe were under pressure last night to step in and help save Sheffield's Don Valley stadium, the venue where the poster girl of the 2012 Olympics, Jessica Ennis, does much of her training. A decision to close the stadium has compromised Ennis's chances of retaining her heptathlon title in Brazil in 2016, her coach, Toni Minichiello, warns in today's Observer.The government and Lord Coe were under pressure last night to step in and help save Sheffield's Don Valley stadium, the venue where the poster girl of the 2012 Olympics, Jessica Ennis, does much of her training. A decision to close the stadium has compromised Ennis's chances of retaining her heptathlon title in Brazil in 2016, her coach, Toni Minichiello, warns in today's Observer.
Sheffield City Council says the £700,000 it spent subsidising the stadium last year is unsustainable, as it has to make cuts of £50m a year. But the decision to close it, coming after the UK's Olympics triumph, has dismayed sports fans and provoked a damning response from Minichiello, who blames "systemic errors in government policy that is affecting a whole generation of kids who want to be involved in sport". In a withering assault on the government, he writes: "Six months after the Paralympics, I cannot help wonder if there ever was a realistic legacy plan post 2012."Sheffield City Council says the £700,000 it spent subsidising the stadium last year is unsustainable, as it has to make cuts of £50m a year. But the decision to close it, coming after the UK's Olympics triumph, has dismayed sports fans and provoked a damning response from Minichiello, who blames "systemic errors in government policy that is affecting a whole generation of kids who want to be involved in sport". In a withering assault on the government, he writes: "Six months after the Paralympics, I cannot help wonder if there ever was a realistic legacy plan post 2012."
Ennis expressed her disappointment on Twitter, writing "so sad to lose Don Valley Stadium! Where it all started for me. Great memories". A bid to save the stadium is now under way with the launch of an e-petition, and there have been calls for Coe, head of the Olympics organising committee and a former Olympian who ran for Sheffield's Hallamshire Harriers, to step in.Ennis expressed her disappointment on Twitter, writing "so sad to lose Don Valley Stadium! Where it all started for me. Great memories". A bid to save the stadium is now under way with the launch of an e-petition, and there have been calls for Coe, head of the Olympics organising committee and a former Olympian who ran for Sheffield's Hallamshire Harriers, to step in.
Mike Corden, chairman of the City of Sheffield Athletics Club, expressed fury at the decision to close a stadium that he described as the best in the country. "The writing was on the wall when they didn't instantly rename it after Jess following the Olympics," he said.Mike Corden, chairman of the City of Sheffield Athletics Club, expressed fury at the decision to close a stadium that he described as the best in the country. "The writing was on the wall when they didn't instantly rename it after Jess following the Olympics," he said.
Corden said the country should be able to find £700,000 a year to pay for an athletics facility that would cost £100m to build now, and called on Coe to intervene. "Someone should be on the phone to Seb Coe," Corden said. "Last year Boris Johnson, Coe, David Cameron and Tessa Jowell were all preening themselves: let them all come and look at what has been left here. Is this the legacy that Coe wanted?" Coe has yet to issue a response, but has urged people to fight for the stadium if they want it to remain open. Sheffield council said it subsidises every visit to the stadium by more than £5. It has proposed reopening a track at the smaller Woodbourn Road Stadium nearby.Corden said the country should be able to find £700,000 a year to pay for an athletics facility that would cost £100m to build now, and called on Coe to intervene. "Someone should be on the phone to Seb Coe," Corden said. "Last year Boris Johnson, Coe, David Cameron and Tessa Jowell were all preening themselves: let them all come and look at what has been left here. Is this the legacy that Coe wanted?" Coe has yet to issue a response, but has urged people to fight for the stadium if they want it to remain open. Sheffield council said it subsidises every visit to the stadium by more than £5. It has proposed reopening a track at the smaller Woodbourn Road Stadium nearby.
Don Valley was a temporary home to Rotherham United for four seasons and hosted gigs by Michael Jackson, Celine Dion and the Spice Girls. It was built as the centrepiece of a £147m construction programme when Sheffield hosted the 1991 World Student Games. But the city is still paying off the debts.Don Valley was a temporary home to Rotherham United for four seasons and hosted gigs by Michael Jackson, Celine Dion and the Spice Girls. It was built as the centrepiece of a £147m construction programme when Sheffield hosted the 1991 World Student Games. But the city is still paying off the debts.
Ennis's success helped attract a new generation of athletes to the stadium. Minichiello said there were now 800 children training there, compared with 340 before the Olympics.Ennis's success helped attract a new generation of athletes to the stadium. Minichiello said there were now 800 children training there, compared with 340 before the Olympics.
Jon Brown, the UK 10,000m record-holder before Mo Farah, who lived in Sheffield for 13 years, told Athletics Weekly magazine that the decision would have an impact on the next generation of athletes. "What a confusing message this sends out to young athletes a year after a home Olympics," Brown said. "A great world-class stadium binned."Jon Brown, the UK 10,000m record-holder before Mo Farah, who lived in Sheffield for 13 years, told Athletics Weekly magazine that the decision would have an impact on the next generation of athletes. "What a confusing message this sends out to young athletes a year after a home Olympics," Brown said. "A great world-class stadium binned."
But the magazine's editor, Jason Henderson, said athletics had struggled to fill the 25,000-capacity stadium. "I remember Kelly Holmes's farewell meeting there in 2005 and most of the back straight was boarded up to hide the fact spectators weren't filling those sections," Henderson wrote.But the magazine's editor, Jason Henderson, said athletics had struggled to fill the 25,000-capacity stadium. "I remember Kelly Holmes's farewell meeting there in 2005 and most of the back straight was boarded up to hide the fact spectators weren't filling those sections," Henderson wrote.
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