Wednesday, April 23, 2008

South Leeds Stadium
The John Charles Centre for Sport is a sports facility in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was previously named the South Leeds Stadium and was renamed to honour John Charles (1931-2004), the former Leeds United and Wales footballer. It is to the south of Leeds city centre roughly on the border of the Beeston, Belle Isle and Hunslet areas. The sports centre opened in 1996.
It is used by Leeds United football club for reserve matches and since November 1995 by Hunslet Hawks rugby league club. It is the principal athletics stadium in the Leeds area and is the home of Leeds City Athletics Club. The sports complex also includes a tennis centre and indoor bowls and athletics centre.
On 29 October 2007 the John Charles Centre for Sport will see the opening of its Aquatics Centre. The Olympic size swimming pool will be a relocation from previous facilities at the 40 year old Leeds International Pool. Two submersible booms built into the main pool enable it to be divided into three pools of different sizes and depths, allowing a flexible daily swimming programme. A floating floor allows the depth of the diving pool and 1/3 of the main pool to be varied from two metres to shallow water for teaching and 0-5 meters for the diving pool. As well as public swimming sessions, the pool hosts children's parties, sub aqua classes and swimming lessons. The centre is also suitable for national and international swimming and diving, with seating for 650 people overlooking the main pool and for 150 overlooking the diving area. The £16.5m centre also includes an aerobics studio and multi-use rooms.