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[[File:Millennium Stadium at dusk.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Millennium Stadium]], Cardiff ({{lang-cy|Stadiwm y Mileniwm}}),<br>on the bank of the [[River Taff]]]]
'''Sport in Cardiff''' plays a very important role due to it being the capital city of [[Wales]]. It has its own teams in the mainstream football, rugby, cricket and ice hockey teams, and is also home to national stadium of Wales.
'''Sport in Cardiff''' plays a very important role in the life of [[Wales]]' capital city. Cardiff plays host to many high-profile sporting events at local, national and international level and in recognition of the city's committment to sport for all Cardiff has been awarded the title of European City of Sport 2009.<ref name="Uni 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/for/prospective/pg/life/cardiff/index.html ref|publisher=Cardiff University|date=2007-11-02|title= Cardiff - The City|accessdate=2009-06-28|work=Cardiff University website}}</ref><ref name="Cardiff Council 1">{{cite web|title=Cardiff - Home, Sport Cardiff, Sport.Cardiff|url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/sport/|accessdate=2009-06-28|publisher=Cardiff Council|date=2009-05-27|work=Cardiff Council's website}}</ref><ref name="Cardiff Council 2">{{cite web|title=Cardiff - Home, European City of Sport, European City of Sport 2009|url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2868%2C2966%2C5535&parent_directory_id=2865|accessdate=2009-06-29|publisher=Cardiff Council|date=2009-06-01|work=Cardiff Council's website}}</ref> Organised sports have been held in the city since the early 19th century.<ref name="Arms Park 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/glamorgan/content/story/60134.html|publisher=ESPN EMEA Ltd.|date=2005-01-06|title= Cricinfo.com|accessdate=2009-06-26|work=ESPN Cricinfo website}}</ref> [[Cardiff Arms Park]] ({{lang-cy|Parc yr Arfau Caerdydd}}), in central Cardiff, is among the world's most famous venues&mdash;being the scene of three [[Wales national rugby union team|Welsh]] [[Grand Slam (rugby union)|Grand Slams]] in the 1970s ([[1971 Five Nations Championship|1971]], [[1976 Five Nations Championship|1976]] and [[1978 Five Nations Championship|1978]]) and six [[Six Nations Championship|Five Nations]] titles in nine years&mdash;and was the venue for Wales' games in the [[1991 Rugby World Cup]].<ref name="Arms Park 2">{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff-rfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=68|publisher=Cardiff Rugby Football Club|date=2007-11-02|title= Cardiff RFC - CRFC History|accessdate=2009-06-26|work=Cardiff RFC website}}</ref><ref name="rwc 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.rwc2007.irb.com/destinationFrance/venues/venue=1/stadium.html

|publisher=RWCL|year=2007|title=RWC 2007 - The Millennium Stadium|accessdate=2009-06-27|work=2007 RWCL website}}</ref><ref name="Arms Park 3">{{cite web |url=http://www.viamichelin.be/viamichelin/gbr/dyn/controller/Datasheet/4fef4a879fbee938b9416dcacea56b3b/125195/Cardiff%20or%20the%20pride%20of%20being%20Welsh!
|publisher=ViaMichelin SAS|year=2009|title=Cardiff or the pride of being Welsh!|accessdate=2009-06-28|work=ViaMichelin website}}</ref><ref name="Arms Park 4">{{cite web|url=http://guides.travelchannel.com/cardiff/business-travel/personal-business/public-access-sports-grounds/386235.html
|publisher=The Travel Channel L.L.C.|year=2009|title=Cardiff travel guide: Cardiff vacation ideas:Travel Channel|accessdate=2009-06-28|work=Travel Channel website}}</ref> The Arms Park has a sporting history dating back to at least the 1850s, when Cardiff Cricket Club (formed 1819) relocated to the site.<ref name="Arms Park 1"/> The ground was donated to Cardiff CC in 1867 by the [[John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute|Marquess of Bute]]. Cardiff Cricket Club shared the ground with Cardiff Rugby Football Club (founded 1876)&mdash;forming [[Cardiff Athletic Club]] between them&mdash;until 1966, when the cricket section moved to Sophia Gardens. Cardiff Athletic Club and the [[Welsh Rugby Union]] established two stadia on the site&mdash;Cardiff RFC played at their stadium at the northern end of the site, and the [[Wales national rugby union team]] played international matches at the National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park, which opened in 1970. The National Stadium was replaced by the 74,500 capacity [[Millennium Stadium]] ({{lang-cy|Stadiwm y Mileniwm}}) in 1999&mdash;in time for the [[1999 Rugby World Cup]]&mdash;and is home stadium to the [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales national rugby]] and [[Wales national football team|football]] teams for international matches.<ref name="Arms Park 1"/><ref name="Arms Park 2"/><ref name="Mileniwm 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.millenniumstadium.com/information/facts_and_figures.php|publisher=Millennium Stadium plc|year=2009|title=Millennium Stadium:Information:About the Venue:Facts&Figures|accessdate=2009-06-25|work=Millennium Stadium website}}</ref><ref name="Mileniwm 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.millenniumstadium.com/history/index.php|publisher=Millennium Stadium plc|year=2009|title=Millennium Stadium:Information:Stadium History:Stadium History|accessdate=2009-06-29|work=Millennium Stadium website}}</ref> In addition to Wales' [[Six Nations Championship]] and other international games, the Millennium Stadium held four matches in the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]] and six FA Cup finals (from the [[FA Cup 2001–02|2001&ndash;02]] to [[FA Cup 2005–06|2005&ndash;06]] seasons) while [[Wembley Stadium]] was being rebuilt.<ref name="rwc 1"/>
[[Image:Llanelli Bath Powergen Cup.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Llanelli Scarlets]] playing [[Bath Rugby]] during a [[Powergen Cup]] match at the [[Millennium Stadium]].]]
[[Image:Llanelli Bath Powergen Cup.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Llanelli Scarlets]] playing [[Bath Rugby]] during a [[Powergen Cup]] match at the [[Millennium Stadium]].]]


Revision as of 18:37, 2 July 2009

The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff (Welsh: Stadiwm y Mileniwm),
on the bank of the River Taff

Sport in Cardiff plays a very important role in the life of Wales' capital city. Cardiff plays host to many high-profile sporting events at local, national and international level and in recognition of the city's committment to sport for all Cardiff has been awarded the title of European City of Sport 2009.[1][2][3] Organised sports have been held in the city since the early 19th century.[4] Cardiff Arms Park (Welsh: Parc yr Arfau Caerdydd), in central Cardiff, is among the world's most famous venues—being the scene of three Welsh Grand Slams in the 1970s (1971, 1976 and 1978) and six Five Nations titles in nine years—and was the venue for Wales' games in the 1991 Rugby World Cup.[5][6][7][8] The Arms Park has a sporting history dating back to at least the 1850s, when Cardiff Cricket Club (formed 1819) relocated to the site.[4] The ground was donated to Cardiff CC in 1867 by the Marquess of Bute. Cardiff Cricket Club shared the ground with Cardiff Rugby Football Club (founded 1876)—forming Cardiff Athletic Club between them—until 1966, when the cricket section moved to Sophia Gardens. Cardiff Athletic Club and the Welsh Rugby Union established two stadia on the site—Cardiff RFC played at their stadium at the northern end of the site, and the Wales national rugby union team played international matches at the National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park, which opened in 1970. The National Stadium was replaced by the 74,500 capacity Millennium Stadium (Welsh: Stadiwm y Mileniwm) in 1999—in time for the 1999 Rugby World Cup—and is home stadium to the Wales national rugby and football teams for international matches.[4][5][9][10] In addition to Wales' Six Nations Championship and other international games, the Millennium Stadium held four matches in the 2007 Rugby World Cup and six FA Cup finals (from the 2001–02 to 2005–06 seasons) while Wembley Stadium was being rebuilt.[6]

The Llanelli Scarlets playing Bath Rugby during a Powergen Cup match at the Millennium Stadium.

Football

Cardiff has one main professional football club, Cardiff City F.C., nicknamed the Bluebirds, who currently play in the Coca-Cola Football League Championship. Their present stadium is Ninian Park located to the south of the city, however a new stadium Cardiff City Stadium is new to completion in nearby Leckwith, which is due to be open ready for the 2009-10 season, and will be shared with the Cardiff Blues. Cardiff has numerous smaller clubs such as Grange Harlequins A.F.C., UWIC, Cardiff Corinthians F.C., Inter Cardiff and Ely Rangers A.F.C. who all play in the Welsh Football League.

Rugby

Main article: Rugby in Cardiff

The city has a regional rugby union team, the Cardiff Blues, who play in the Magners League at their Cardiff Arms Park stadium. Cardiff also plays host to a rugby league side, Cardiff Demons. The city also has several semi-professional and amateur rugby union clubs such as Glamorgan Wanderers RFC and Cardiff RFC.

Cricket

Cardiff also has a county cricket side, Glamorgan CCC, who play at the city centre's SWALEC Stadium, the result of a multi-million pound improvement in time to host a Test Match as part of The Ashes in 2009.

Ice Hockey

The city's professional ice-hockey team, the Cardiff Devils, play at Cardiff Arena, which is a temporary arena in Cardiff Bay.

Basketball

The Cardiff Celts basketball team (formed 1964) compete in the English Basketball League, Division 1. The Celts play their home games at the Welsh Institute of Sport.[11][12]

Running

The Cardiff Marathon takes place in the city every October and attracts several thousand participants and spectators. Cardiff is also one of the regional cities in the UK chosen by several charities for sponsored runs such as Sport Relief, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research and Blue Peter.

Baseball

Cardiff is the one of the centres of British Baseball and hosts the annual Wales vs England international game every other year, usually at Roath Park, although the 2008 game—marking the centenary of the fixture between the two countries—was held in Llanrumney. Wales won the encounter again, having not lost to England, home or away, since 1995.[13][14]

Rowing

Returning from World War II, members of the Taff Rowing Club (founded 1879) and Cardiff Rowing Club (founded 1884) discovered their clubhouses to have collapsed and burned out. The two clubs amagamalted to form the Llandaff Rowing Club, based on the River Taff, at Llandaff, in 1946. After retoration work to boats and clubhouse, the club's first regatta was held in 1947. Club members have been medal winners at the 1962 Empire Games in Australia and the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The club has a course of 1,200 metres (3,937 ft) of calm water on the River Taff. Llandaff Rowing Club is affiliated to the Welsh Amateur Rowing Association (WARA).[15]

Cardiff City Rowing Club (CCRC) is based at Cardiff Yacht Club on Cardiff Bay and is also affiliated to (WARA). Founded in 2004 by ex-Welsh squad rowers, CCRC has easy access to mile after mile of flat water, including the Rivers Ely and Taff—with access to the stretch of water up to Sophia Gardens, past Cardiff Castle and the Millennium Stadium—back to the whole of Cardiff Bay and the club's multilane rowing course there. Funding by the Sports Council of Wales has enabled CCRC to develop its facilities, boat fleet and local community rowing.[16]

Speedway

Speedway racing was introduced to Cardiff's White City Greyhound Stadium late in 1928 and operated in the pre-war era. The sport did not return until 1951 when a purpose built track in Penarth Road became the home of the Cardiff Dragons. However, the venture failed after a few years. Speedway comes to Cardiff once a year at the Millennium Stadium which has hosted eight consecutive British Grand Prix meetings since 2001 on a purpose built track in the weather proof stadium.

Swimming

The Wales Empire Swimming Pool was later demolished in 1998 to make way for the Millennium Stadium. The replacement pool, the Cardiff International Swimming Pool was opened on 12 January 2008 in Cardiff Bay as part of the International Sports Village. 25 metre swimming pools are located in seven city leisure centres.

Golf

The following golf courses are located in the city:

  • St. Andrews Major Golf Course
  • Castell Coch Golf Course
  • Radyr Golf Club
  • Whitchurch (Cardiff) Golf Club
  • Creigiau Golf Club
  • St. Mellons Golf Club
  • Llanishen Golf Club

International Events

1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games between 18 and 26 July 1958, it is now called the Commonwealth Games. The main stadium to host the event was Cardiff Arms Park for the track and field events, while the Wales Empire Swimming Pool, which also opened in 1958, hosted all the swimming and diving events. Of the venues used for the event, only the cycling track at Maindy Centre remains.

London 2012 Olympics

Cardiff is expected to play a large role in the London 2012 Olympics with the Millennium Stadium being expected to host many events. Also, the following 11 venues in Cardiff will be used to train athletes for the Olympics[17] :

Stadia and Venues

Millennium Stadium

The Millennium Stadium

See main article Millennium Stadium

The city features an international sporting venue, the 74,500 capacity national Millennium Stadium, where the Wales national rugby and football teams play. The Millennium Stadium was built on the former site of the National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park and it was opened in 1999 in time to host the 1999 Rugby World Cup, including the final .

Wales Rally GB

The Millennium Stadium also doubles up as a venue for other concerts and events such as motorsport's World Rally Championship as part of Wales Rally GB, with the first ever indoor special stages of the World Rally Championship being held at the Millennium Stadium in September 2005. It has continued to host this annual event.

One of the annual Speedway Grands Prix is staged on a purpose built full size track in the Millennium Stadium. The Grand Prix is a round of the World Speedway Championship event. Speedway was first staged at Cardiff White City greyhound stadium during the pre-war era with the first meeting being staged around Christmas 1928. In the early 1950s, a dedicated speedway stadium was constructed in Penarth Road and the Cardiff Dragons raced in the National League Division Three for a short spell.

Ninian Park

Ninian Park

See main article Ninian Park

Ninian Park is a football stadium in the Leckwith area of the city. Currently, it is the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., a Welsh club that competes in the English Football League Championship. It seats 22,000.

Cardiff City Stadium

Main article: Cardiff City Stadium

Work was started on Cardiff City's new stadium in February 2007, it is believed to hold 30,000 when completed, which could be increased to 60,000 if needed. Although St David's Stadium appeared to be a favourite name amongst the Bluebirds fans, the venue was ultimately named Cardiff City Stadium.

Cardiff Arms Park

Cardiff Arms Park

See main article Cardiff Arms Park

Cardiff Arms Park is a rugby union stadium situated in the city centre. It is arguably rugby union's most famous stadium and is home to the Cardiff Blues and Cardiff RFC.[18] Previously the site had two stadiums: the Cardiff Rugby Ground and also the National Stadium. Until 1966 it was also home to the only Welsh first-class cricket club, Glamorgan County Cricket Club.

It officially opened on 7 April 1984, but by 1999 the Millennium Stadium, which was the fourth redevelopment of the Cardiff Arms Park site since 1881, had replaced it as the national stadium of Wales. The future of the remaining Cardiff Rugby Ground is now in doubt with the announcement in 2007 that the Cardiff Blues will be moving to the new Cardiff City stadium in 2009.[19]

The site has been host to many sports apart from rugby union and cricket, including athletics, association football, greyhound racing, tennis,[20] British baseball and boxing. The National Stadium also hosted many music concerts including The Rolling Stones, U2 and Michael Jackson.

SWALEC Stadium (Sophia Gardens)

SWALEC Stadium

See main article SWALEC Stadium

SWALEC Stadium is a cricket stadium on the west bank of the River Taff in Cardiff, one mile north of Cardiff Arms Park and was originally known as Sophia Gardens. The SWALEC Stadium is home to the Glamorgan County Cricket Club. The cricket club has played first-class cricket matches at the venue since 1966, after moving away from Cardiff Arms Park. A 125-year lease of the ground was acquired in 1995, after the previous leaseholders, Cardiff Athletic Club, moved to their cricket section to the Diamond Ground in Whitchurch, Cardiff.[21] Beside the cricket ground is the large sports hall complex of the Welsh Institute of Sport. Cardiff Corinthians F.C. have previously used the area for football. The capacity is 5,500 but after renovations it will be upgraded to 15,000.

Cardiff International Sports Stadium

See main article Cardiff International Sports Stadium

Cardiff International Sports Stadium

The Cardiff International Sports Stadium is a new stadium which is being built in Leckwith.

The stadium will include a gym, meeting rooms, and offices. The final completion date of the main stadium building and floodlighting of the running track will not be until the end of May 2008[22].

The stadium has replaced the older Cardiff Athletics Stadium, which has been demolished as part of the overall Leckwith Development, which includes the New Cardiff City stadium[23].

National Indoor Athletics

See main article National Indoor Athletics Centre

The National Indoor Athletics Centre is an indoor track and field athletics sports venue in the city. It is sited on the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff Campus. The track facilities include:

  • 200m, 4 lane banked track
  • 60m, 8 lane straight track
  • 120m, 6 lane straight track which finishes outside the main arena

Welsh Institute of Sport

See main article Welsh Institute of Sport

Welsh Institute of Sport

he Welsh Institute of Sport (Welsh: Athrofa Chwaraeon Cymru) was established in 1972 to provide facilities to help develop excellence in Welsh sport. The institute has indoor sports halls, next to Glamorgan CCC's SWALEC Stadium in Sophia Gardens. Sports activities in the Main Hall include gymnastics, table tennis, trampoline, badminton, netball, basketball, archery, martial arts, fencing, dance and boxing. The site also contains squash courts and weight training rooms. Outdoors, the Institute has an international standard permeable artificial pitch, which is one of the home international venues for Welsh hockey. The pitch is also used for lacrosse and football. Their outdoor tennis courts are also used for netball and five-a-side football. Welsh national teams that train at the Welsh Institute of Sport include the Welsh National Rugby team (on the Institute's full-size, floodlit rugby pitch), Welsh National Badminton team, the Womans Welsh National Netball Team and the Welsh National Gymnastic Team.[24][25][26]

Cardiff International Pool

Cardiff International Pool

See main article Cardiff International Pool

The Cardiff International Pool is located in the Cardiff International Sports Village in Cardiff Bay.[27] It opened to the public on 12 January 2008 and it officially opened on 26 February 2008 by Duncan Goodhew.[28]

It includes two pools; an Olympic size [[List of Olympic size swimming pools in the United Kingdom|Template:M to ft 10-lane competition swimming pool]] with seating for 1,000 spectators and a Template:M to ft 4-lane indoor waterpark with flume rides, a beach area with water slides, a lazy river and jacuzzi. The centre also has a fitness suite and studios, conference rooms and a café[29][30].

See also

References

  1. ^ ref "Cardiff - The City". Cardiff University website. Cardiff University. 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2009-06-28. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  2. ^ "Cardiff - Home, Sport Cardiff, Sport.Cardiff". Cardiff Council's website. Cardiff Council. 2009-05-27. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  3. ^ "Cardiff - Home, European City of Sport, European City of Sport 2009". Cardiff Council's website. Cardiff Council. 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  4. ^ a b c "Cricinfo.com". ESPN Cricinfo website. ESPN EMEA Ltd. 2005-01-06. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  5. ^ a b "Cardiff RFC - CRFC History". Cardiff RFC website. Cardiff Rugby Football Club. 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  6. ^ a b "RWC 2007 - The Millennium Stadium". 2007 RWCL website. RWCL. 2007. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  7. ^ "Cardiff or the pride of being Welsh!". ViaMichelin website. ViaMichelin SAS. 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  8. ^ "Cardiff travel guide: Cardiff vacation ideas:Travel Channel". Travel Channel website. The Travel Channel L.L.C. 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  9. ^ "Millennium Stadium:Information:About the Venue:Facts&Figures". Millennium Stadium website. Millennium Stadium plc. 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  10. ^ "Millennium Stadium:Information:Stadium History:Stadium History". Millennium Stadium website. Millennium Stadium plc. 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  11. ^ "Celts Basketball - About Us". Celts Basketball. 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-27work=Celts Basketball website. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  12. ^ "Celts Basketball - News - Celts Find New Home at WIS". Celts Basketball website. Celts Basketball. 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  13. ^ "BBC South East Wales Sport - Baseball". BBC Sout East Wales. 2006-08-30. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  14. ^ "International baseball". Welsh Baseball website. Welsh Baseball. 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  15. ^ "Llandaff Rowing Club". Llandaff Rowing Club website. Llandaff Rowing Club. 2009-06-18. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  16. ^ "Cardiff City Rowing Club -News". Cardiff City Rowing Club website. Cardiff City Rowing Club. 2006. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  17. ^ BBC SPORT | Olympics & Olympic sport | London 2012 | Olympic training venues - Wales
  18. ^ "Arms Park groundsman's dream job". BBC. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  19. ^ http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~1318602,00.html
  20. ^ "Post-war developments in Sophia Gardens". Glamorgan County Cricket Club & CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  21. ^ "Cardiff Arms Park - a short History by Andrew Hignell - Cardiff Athletic Club". Glamorgan County Cricket Club & CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
  22. ^ Cardiff Athletics Stadium
  23. ^ The Leckwith Development
  24. ^ "::The Welsh Institute of Sport:: - Overview and History". Welsh Institute of Sport website. Welsh Institute of Sport. 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-275. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  25. ^ "::The Welsh Institute of Sport:: - Overview and History". Welsh Institute of Sport website. Welsh Institute of Sport. 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  26. ^ "::The Welsh Institute of Sport:: - Overview and History". Welsh Institute of Sport website. Welsh Institute of Sport. 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  27. ^ "Cardiff International Pool". Parkwood Leisure. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  28. ^ Record opening for new city pool
  29. ^ £32m Olympic pool opens its doors
  30. ^ Signing ceremony for pool
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