Aberdeen Sports Village

File:Diving pool, Aberdeen Sports Village Aquatics Centre (geograph 4842311).jpg

The present athletics track is situated on the site of the Aberdeen Regent Park Greyhound Stadium which later became the Linksfield Stadium and subsequently the Chris Anderson Stadium. The stadium was redeveloped as part of the Sports Village project.{{Cite web|title=Chris Anderson Stadium|url=https://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst19585.html|access-date=2022-01-23|website=The Gazetteer for Scotland|language=en-gb}}

The first stage of the Village was opened on 22 August 2009, representing an investment of £28 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/3301/|title=£28 million Aberdeen Sports Village to open its doors|website=University of Aberdeen|date=20 August 2009|access-date=29 August 2022}} In 2010, Aberdeen Sports Village hosted a training session of the Scottish Rugby Team. In 2012 Aberdeen Sports Village was an official pre-games training venue of the Cameroon Olympic Team prior to London 2012.

Construction on the Aquatics Centre started in late 2011 and was completed in early 2014 following an investment of £22 million. The centre opened on 5 May 2014 as an expansion of the existing Aberdeen Sports Village complex.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/AbdnSportsVillage |title=Aberdeen Sports Village |publisher=YouTube |date=2013-08-18 |accessdate=2014-02-09}}{{Cite web|url=http://stv.tv/news/north/|title=North East & Tayside|website=STV News}}{{Cite web|date=2014-05-06|title=Aquatics Centre Officially Opens Doors to Public|url=https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/6215/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-01-19|website=University of Aberdeen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520102933/http://www.abdn.ac.uk:80/news/6215 |archive-date=20 May 2014 }} The King's Pavilion swimming pool was subsequently closed.{{Cite web |last=Mackay |first=David |date=2016-04-22 |title=Aberdeen University pool revamp takes step forward |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/education/higher-education/895646/pool-revamp-takes-step-forward/ |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=Press and Journal |language=en-GB}}

The athletics track was replaced in 2015. In 2022, the outdoor hockey pitch had its surface and lighting replaced.{{Cite web|last=Hebditch|first=Jon|date=2022-02-23|title=Massive £250k upgrade of 'world class' Aberdeen hockey pitch announced|url=https://www.aberdeenlive.news/sport/other-sports/massive-250k-upgrade-world-class-6708418|access-date=2022-02-25|website=aberdeenlive|language=en}}

File:Denis Law - "Legend" (geograph 3143626).jpg|267x267px]]

The Sports Village features a 135m indoor running straight, indoor football pitch, sports hall, four squash courts, gym and two dance studios. There is a 400m outdoor running track as well as a football pitch, which is the home ground of Junior team Bridge of Don Thistle F.C. since 2018{{cite news|date=27 June 2018|title=Thistle agree deal for New Ground!|publisher=Bridge of Don Thistle J.F.C.|url=http://www.bridgeofdonthistlejfc.com/club/138040/News/view/957139|url-status=dead|access-date=8 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708163814/http://www.bridgeofdonthistlejfc.com/club/138040/News/view/957139|archive-date=8 July 2018}} (and previously Lewis United F.C. until they folded in 2018). There is also a hockey pitch.

The Aquatics Centre hosts a 50-meter Olympic standard pool and a 25-meter pool with diving boards up to 10 meters as well as a sauna, steam room, and exercise rooms. There are two cafes, located at the main entrance to the Sports Village and at the entrance to the Aquatics Centre.

A statue to footballer Denis Law is situated at the facility's entrance.{{cite web|date=21 July 2012|title=Statue in Aberdeen moves Denis Law to tears|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/statue-in-aberdeen-moves-denis-law-to-tears-1-2424817|access-date=27 May 2018|work=The Scotsman}}{{cite web|date=20 July 2012|title=Manchester United star Denis Law has statue unveiled at Aberdeen Sports Village|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-18921974|access-date=27 May 2018|work=BBC News}}

The venue held the 2014 Commonwealth Water Polo Championships between 5–12 April 2014. These events were held prior to opening of the venue and while exterior and car park construction was still taking place.{{Cite web|title=Commonwealth Water Polo Championships | Scottish Swimming|url=http://www.scottishswimming.com/compete/water-polo/cwpc2014.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416180130/http://www.scottishswimming.com/compete/water-polo/cwpc2014.aspx|archive-date=16 April 2014|access-date=5 May 2014}} The Aquatics Centre hosted a leg of the Para Swimming World Series event in 2022.{{Cite web|last=Houston|first=Michael|date=2021-12-15|title=Aberdeen to host Para Swimming World Series event next year|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1116840/aberdeen-world-para-swimming-series|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-17|website=Inside The Games|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215120121/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1116840/aberdeen-world-para-swimming-series |archive-date=15 December 2021 }} The Aquatics Centre is also the host of the yearly Gowlands Cup underwater hockey tournament.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-05-18 |title=Summer Events: Gowlands Underwater Hockey Tournament! |url=https://www.gaudie.co.uk/post/summer-events-gowlands-underwater-hockey-tournament |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=The Gaudie |language=en}}

• Sport in Aberdeen
• List of long course swimming pools in the United Kingdom

{{Reflist}}

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• [http://www.aberdeensportsvillage.com/ Official website]

{{Football venues in Scotland}}

Category:Football venues in Aberdeen

Category:Sports venues in Aberdeen

Category:2009 establishments in Scotland

Category:Sports venues completed in 2009

Category:Swimming venues in Scotland

Category:University of Aberdeen

Category:University sports venues in the United Kingdom

Category:Water polo venues