Sports Park Hawke's Bay

Some of Hawkes Bay's sporting elite will be out in support of the Regional Sports Park at the launch of a Supporters' Club at the new all weather athletics track this evening (Tuesday 25 November).

The Club will be launched by cricketing great and now TV and radio sports commentator, Ian Smith. Mr Smith is a founding supporter for the Club and spokesperson. He will be joined at the launch by Kelt Capital Magpies Danny Lee and Zac Guilford, Black sticks Shea McAleese and Caryn Paewai and double Commonwealth Games track representative Richard Potts. Hawkes Bay United Football will be represented by professional import player Daniel Kirkup and Development Manager Stu Wilson. Olympic cycling gold medallist Sarah Ulmer phoned through her endorsement of the club via an audio link.

"This Park will arguably be New Zealand's premier sporting complex. The athletics track is among the top three in New Zealand, it will have the only indoor velodrome in the North Island and the football, tennis, netball and gymsport facilities are right up there. But these things don't just happen. This is an ambitious project and it's important the community gets in behind it which is why we've launched the supporters" club, says Mr Smith.

The shift of athletics facilities from Nelson Park to the new site in Percival Rd followed a public referendum which endorsed the move. Subsequently a number of other sports have put forward strong cases for also being involved and are being accommodated in stages two and three of the park development.

Mr Smith said he was especially supportive of the social spin offs from the Park. "Some of the health stats coming out of the region are the worst in the country and we're not too flash in crime either. The active sporting programmes that are part of the park go some way to addressing this. As principal youth court judge Andrew Becroft put it recently ‘a kid in sport stays out of court.' But actually it's not just about kids, the park caters for all ages and cultures."

For further information contact Ian Smith who will be at the launch, 6.30-7.30pm, Regional Sports Park, Percival Rd