Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson has welcomed the opening of a new £2.4million sports facility at Stormont.

The new Playball sports facilities at the Pavilion, the first of its kind in Belfast, has been developed with the support of Sport Northern Ireland.

The new facilities include nine synthetic all weather pitches, including eight multi-sport pitches and an international standard water based hockey pitch, all of which will be available for public use.

Speaking at the beginning of a weekend festival of sport and recreation to officially launch the new Playball sports facilities at the Pavilion, the First Minister said: "The benefits that sport and physical recreation bring to individuals are well documented, not just improving their health and well being, but also their quality of life. These new facilities will help to increase participation right across the wider community."

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Congratulating the Association on the selection of the Pavilion Complex as one of Northern Ireland’s 26 Pre-Games Training Centres for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, Mr Robinson commented: "I have no doubt that the improved facilities will help to attract further major events to the Pavilion, such as the recent one day International cricket match between Ireland and Bangladesh and the 2010 European Pipe Band Championships, which attracted over 10,000 spectators in July."

The Pavilion complex caters for a wide range of sports for the casual and competitive user and there has already been considerable interest from community groups, charities, schools, universities, affiliated clubs, hockey clubs, professional and amateur football clubs, corporate and public organisations and the general public.

(GK)