Construction work has begun on the National Indoor Sports Arena (NISA) and the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, a facility that will host two events - badminton and cycling - at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, was joined at the site today by John Scott, Chief Executive of Glasgow 2014 Limited, Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland, Mr Andrew McAlpine of Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd and pupils from Dalmarnock and Sacred Heart Primary schools, to mark the beginning of the construction of the National Indoor Sports Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

The NISA and velodrome - which will be one of the biggest indoor sports facilities of its type in Europe - will be located on a 10.5 hectare site in the East End of Glasgow, close to Celtic Park and the Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village.

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The complex will be the principal new dedicated sports facility for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and will include Scotland’s first indoor velodrome, building on the celebrated successes of Sir Chris Hoy and other Scottish cyclists. Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd will deliver the building of the facility.

The indoor arena, which will host the Badminton events during the Games, will have 5,000 spectator seats when set up for sporting competitions, while the velodrome will have a permanent capacity for 2,000 seated and 500 standing spectators viewing the 250-metre cycle track, which will be increased to 4000 seats at Games time for the track cycling events.

The velodrome track will be designed by the internationally renowned designer Ralph Schuermann, who designed the 2008 Olympic Games velodrome in Beijing.

The new headquarters of sportscotland, the national sports agency, will be located on the same site, adjacent to the NISA and velodrome.

The construction project will require a total workforce of 200, including 20 new apprenticeship places.

Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, said: "The beginning of the construction of the National Indoor Sports Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome is another landmark towards the creation of a world-class sporting complex for Glasgow.

"The arena and velodrome will be seen around the world when the badminton and indoor cycling events of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games are held here.

"There will be many other top-class sporting events held at the venue, with fantastic facilities for users to improve their health and fitness, and this will undoubtedly be a fantastic asset to Glasgow and Scotland."

(GK/BMcC)