Gateshead International Stadium - A Sporting History
Athletes at Gateshead International Stadium
The original Gateshead Youth Stadium first opened on 27 August 1955 by marathon hero Jim Peters comprising
of a cinder running track and asphalt cycling track costing a total of £30,000.
In the following years, the site developed adding floodlights, a seating grandstand and the laying of a tartan synthetic track in 1974, on which local athlete Brendan Foster, and then Gateshead Council Sport and Recreation Manager, broke the 3000m world record in that year.
The Stadium's reputation grew as a leading sporting venue. The 1970's and 80's saw major expansion work, not only to the athletics track and field facilities but also the infrastructure of the site. As well as athletics the Stadium branched out into facilities for other sports including:
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an indoor sports hall for 5-a-side and netball;
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outdoor pitch surfaces for football, rugby and hockey;
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a weights room for local people and talented athletes to use alike.
Sporting events
Throughout the years, the stadium has played host to many regional, national and international sporting events. From home-grown talents such as Mike McLeod and Jonathan Edwards to international names such as Haile Gebrselassie, Carl Lewis and the New Zealand All Blacks, the Stadium has hosted many of the world’s best sportspeople.
Gateshead International Stadium became the first venue ever to host the European Cup on two occasions in 1989 and 2000.
It has, however, always maintained its commitment to providing superb training and playing facilities for the local community.
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Every year, more than 12,000 school children participate in sporting events at the stadium;
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over 200,000 local people use the facilities to exercise;
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many Gateshead sports clubs are associated with the venue.
The Stadium has a past to be proud of…and with the new development officially opened by Lord Sebastian Coe, in the presence of the Mayor of Gateshead, Cllr Joe Mitchinson, on 12 May 2006 - the future looks good too!