A newly redeveloped leisure centre has officially opened in Belfast.

Olympia, on the Boucher Road, is the first of Belfast City Council's (BCC) redeveloped facilities to open under its £105 million Leisure Transformation Programme.

The Andersonstown, Brook and the Robinson Centre sites are all set to be transformed.

The £19m investment by BCC now sees the new Olympia almost doubled in size with a 25m pool and learner pool, 120 station fitness suite, four-court sports hall and a luxury Day Spa providing six relaxing thermal experiences and treatment rooms. The Department for Communities, as part of the NI Executive's Stadium Redevelopment Programme, has also contributed a further £2.75m to the project.

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Sports Minister Paul Givan said: "This project has been an exciting partnership between the Department for Communities and Belfast City Council that has provided a state-of-the-art leisure centre at the rear of the West stand at Windsor Park.

"The new facilities will be a tremendous boost for the social, leisure and economic wellbeing of those from the local community and indeed, its positive influence will also be enjoyed by a much wider audience."

Gareth Kirk, GLL Regional Director, said: "As a social enterprise, GLL are extremely proud to be managing the new Olympia. Olympia will be the jewel in the crown of Belfast’s leisure facilities and will deliver unrivalled health and wellbeing opportunities. Our affordable Better membership options offer customers access to the spa, gym, pool and fitness classes, plus admission to our other Better leisure centres across the city.

"Since GLL arrived Belfast in January 2015, overall use of leisure facilities has increased by 20 percent and the uptake in the number of children in the city learning to swim in our lessons each week has doubled. The opening of this fantastic new building will see further opportunities for more local people to become more active more often."

(CD/LM)