Olympic gold medallist Dani King will lead the golden anniversary celebrations at Calshot Activities Centre next week.

It is 50 years since the Hampshire County Council sports facility opened, and the occasion will be marked at a ceremony on Tuesday, July 9.

King, who won gold in the women’s team pursuit last year, will raise a special flag to commemorate the milestone.

She will be joined by some of Hampshire’s Games Makers, who volunteered at London 2012, while she will take a group of schoolchildren on a ride around the centre’s indoor velodrome.

“It’s really nice to be back at Calshot to help celebrate their 50th birthday,” said King, 22. “Hampshire County Council supported me through their Hampshire Talented Athlete Scheme, and it’s great to hear that they are still supporting sport, from community level through to young professional athletes.”

Among its wide range of land and water-based sports facilities, the centre boasts the south’s only indoor velodrome, as well as a dry ski slope and state-of-the-art climbing complex.

To coincide with the celebrations, the council will also be launching its Olympic Legacy Programme, which it hopes will increase participation, offering more support to the county’s elite athletes into the bargain, and encouraging people to become more involved in arts and cultural activities.

Cllr Keith Chapman, executive member for culture, recreation and countryside, said: “As a home-grown Hampshire Olympic gold medallist, it is a huge honour to have Dani’s help in marking this fantastic milestone in Calshot’s history. “Calshot has played a significant part in helping up-and-coming riders to gain access to time on the track, being the only indoor track in the south and it’s great to be able to support so many of these promising athletes through our Hampshire Talented Athlete Scheme. “The 2012 Olympics may be behind us, but they have left an amazing legacy not only in Hampshire, but throughout the country as a whole and we look forward to supporting new generations to come reach great sporting heights in future.”