Stadium axe short-sighted, says Ennis coach

Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis’s coach said the closure of the stadium where she trains shows the “short-sightedness of us a nation” and called for a major rethink of how sport in Britain is organised and funded.
Sheffield's Don Valley StadiumSheffield's Don Valley Stadium
Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium

Tony Minichiello said Sheffield City Council’s decision to demolish the Don Valley Stadium in a bid to cut £50m from its budget was a retrograde step that sends out the wrong message about our commitment to sport.

But he added that it was unrealistic to expect local authorities to fund leisure facilities such as the £29m venue in Sheffield without greater support from national government.

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“It’s incredibly disappointing that the Don Valley Stadium has been closed,” said Mr Minichiello. “It’s disappointing for athletics in the city.

“But I understand the position the council has been put in by central government, which is demanding it makes these huge cuts.

“Facilities need to be supported by central government and local government combined.”

He said a top-down rethink is required to capitalise on the surge in interest major sporting events such as the London Olympics provide and to ensure sport plays a bigger role in people’s lives.

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“There really needs to be an overhaul where we look at the health agenda, we look at education and we look at sport and how these things overlap,” he said.

Labour-run Sheffield City Council said the £700,000 it spent subsidising Don Valley Stadium in 2012/13 was unsustainable as the facility was running at a loss.

The council said it subsidises every visit by more than £5 and the property requires major repair and maintenance work totalling around £1.6m, which it simply cannot foot the bill for.

Mr Minichiello, who used the arena to coach Ennis to gold in the heptathlon at London 2012, said he had spoken to the Olympian about the closure since the decision was made on Friday and said Ennis, who was training at the arena yesterday morning, was “very sad”.

“She’s clearly disappointed,” he added. “That’s the stadium she walked into at nine years old and was inspired by.”