‘Sort that problem out’ - Oliver Coppard shares thoughts on Woodbourn Road amid northern Olympics dream
A bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the North of England in the 2040s is being planned by the government
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard says there has not been enough investment in many of Sheffield’s sporting facilities amid ongoing questions about Woodbourn Road from the athletics community.
The track, which closed on April 6, partially reopened for supervised sessions with a licensed coach today, but is still a long way off being suitable for competitive events, independent training and even school sports day competitions due to concerns over shock absorption.
Mr Coppard's comments came during a gathering, attended by a number of political figures from Manchester and Liverpool among other cities, hosted at Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Park to discuss the north’s bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the 2040s.
When asked about Sheffield’s role in a bid, Mr Coppard told The Star: “I want South Yorkshire to be right at the forefront of a Northern Olympic and Paralympic bid.
“We're right at the front of the queue for all sorts of investments already, Northern Powerhouse Rail and things like that. We're the gateway to the North so I want to see that investment absolutely right across South Yorkshire and those Olympic and Paralympic facilities right here in this region.”
Mr Coppard was unable to specify which sports Sheffield are bidding to host, saying: “We've got to talk about that across the whole of the north and I'm sure all of the mayors will have their own view about what they want. I want as much of that investment right here in South Yorkshire, but the truth is we're probably not going to do the ocean sailing here.
“So there's got to be some sensible, pragmatic conversations. We think it usually takes about 12 years from the start of the process to the games themselves. So that obviously gives us a timetable roughly into the 2040s, but it's one of the conversations we have to have today and going forward.”
The proposal, while ambitious and potentially great for Sheffield and the wider region, comes amid concerns about the city's own Olympic legacy and the ongoing problems with Woodbourn Road.
Jessica Ennis-Hills’s former coach Toni Minichello was amongst the most vocal, claiming the track was shut for a ‘pathetic reason’ while adding that the next generation’s chance of success have been ‘wrecked’ in recent months.
When asked for his thoughts on its recent closure, Coppard added: “Well, there hasn't been enough investment in some of those athletics and sporting facilities.
“That's absolutely right. That's why Woodburn Road has got the problems that it has. I've been pushing the council and Sheffield Hallam University to sort that problem out and I know they're now onto that, but that's why we want more investment into the north when it comes to our sport facilities.
“We absolutely deserve that investment. We've got some brilliant sports people who have come from South Yorkshire and the whole of the North. We want to power that next generation of talent and the Olympic and Paralympic Games would be a brilliant way of doing it.”