A NEW multi-million pound sports complex has been opened by top athletes at Solent University.

Solent Sports Complex is based at the University's main East Park Terrace campus, in the heart of the city centre, and is the latest addition to a wider £100 million estates development plan.

And to mark the grand opening, alumni of the university and GB gymnast Kelly Simm and Paralympic Gold medallist Helena Lucas officially opened the complex on Thursday.

Staff, students and alumni took community groups and colleges on a tour of the new building, watched a basketball game in its new high performance sports hall, and took part in a Q&A panel discussion with Kelly, Helena, Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Julie Hall and Football Science Lecturer, Chris Neville.

Kelly said: “It’s such an incredible building. It’s so different to what we had just a few years ago. I’ve been using it for a couple of months now, and it really does have everything an elite athlete needs; it’s just amazing.”

Helena said: “It’s really impressive. I’ve been in a lot of gyms around the world and I was just blown away. To have this sort of facility here where you can keep your training up and fit it around your studies is just brilliant.”

The complex includes two sports halls; two fitness studios and a spin studio; a general purpose gym, which is open to the general public; a strength and conditioning gym for students and commercial partners; and a teaching gym, to support undergraduate teaching.

It also provides a space for sports and exercise therapy.

Interim Vice-Chancellor, Professor Julie Hall, said: “This investment, alongside our excellence in teaching and our commitment to real-world learning, ensures that we continue to offer an excellent student experience that prepares our graduates for the world of work. This £28 million complex will enable us to continue to build on our close relationship with the local community, businesses and organisations and provide ‘real-world learning’ opportunities for our students.”