Sports Park Celebrates A 'Milestone'

Local charity outfit Belfast Urban Sports (BUS) are throwing a free urban sports jam for all comers on Saturday 18 September.

The BUS boys will be celebrating the start of construction of Northern Ireland`s first ever purpose built Urban Sports Park, called 'Bridges' – after five years of hard work.

To mark the occasion the BUS boys are hosting a free, one-off celebration of street culture called the `Milestone Session` – in a massive derelict warehouse in the Titanic Quarter, coined T13, after Belfast Urban Sports` `Unit 13` headquarters in Dunmurry.

The event, co-hosted by Belfast City Council, will be a unique mix of high-octane displays from Ireland`s leading BMX, Skate and Blade athletes, hip-hop and break dancing displays, live graffiti, skate workshops for children, three-on-three street basketball and live performances from top local bands Dutch Schultz, Delirium Tremens, Noise Control, A Plastic Rose – who also are featuring at some of the 100 gigs taking place as part of Belfast Music Week.


Belfast Urban Sports Director Liam Lynch commented: “We have been working hard alongside Belfast City Council to bring Northern Ireland`s first ever purpose built Urban Sports Park to Belfast and we are stoked that construction is about to start. The Milestone Session gives us the chance to celebrate this – and give the public a taster of what`s in store at Bridges.”

The new `Bridges Urban Sports Park` will be located under the M3 flyover in Belfast and is due for completion in early 2011. Funding for the venue was secured through the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.

Speaking about the `Milestone Session`, Councillor Conor Maskey, Chairman of Belfast City Council`s Development Committee said: "Belfast`s music scene has much in common with urban sports: both are about pushing back the boundaries, exploring new experiences and taking things to the next level. It is great that both these disciplines are coming together during Belfast Music Week to demonstrate their respective talents in an exciting, fresh and innovative manner and location."

For a glimpse of some world-class BMX, skate and blade athletes in action come along to the Milestone Session on 18 September. Entry is free. The party starts at 1pm and runs until 6pm.

T13 is located on Hamilton Road in the Titanic Quarter (behind the Odyssey Arena).

(GK/KMcA)