European Champion gold medallist Jo Pavey MBE returned to Exeter College this week, where she studied A Levels, as guest of honour as the college celebrated the official opening of its brand new Sports Hall in Victoria Yard in the centre of the city.

As the city’s famous 10,000m specialist, Jo, who is currently training for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the Great Scottish Run next week, joined students, staff and local and national sports and education guests to see the new sports facility that boasts a six badminton court sports hall, classrooms and a sports therapy clinic.

The £5.9million sports building, supported by a grant of £2.4million from the Skills Funding Agency, is the latest in the college’s £14million investment in sports developments and facilities – a four year sport, health and physical activity plan to serve both college students and the wider community. Previous developments have already included a new Fitness and Gym Centre in 2012, management of the Haven Banks Outdoor Education Centre, which was built and paid for by Devon County Council in 2013, and the building of a new sports pavilion in Exwick for students and sports club users.

“Sport has always been very important to the college with our individual students and teams recording successes in local, regional and national competitions” said Richard Atkins, Principal of Exeter College and Chair of the national sports association for colleges, “These new developments will not only benefit these sportsmen and women but, through the work of our partners, will be of value to the local and regional community. This new sports hall will allow sports users access to one of the very best indoor facilities in the region and provide facilities in growing areas such as Futsal, which is the world’s fastest growing indoor sport, as well as basketball, volleyball, netball and cricket.

“We are delighted that one of our renowned former students has been able to break from her challenging training regime to officially open these facilities and to meet and inspire many of the students that are already benefitting from the improved resources. This concludes an important week for Exeter’s profile as a sporting city with the hosting of the Rugby World cup and the University of Exeter being named the Times and Sunday Times ‘Sports University of the Year’ – good news for all in the city. ”

Unveiling the plaque Jo Pavey said “It’s great to be back at Exeter College although with this brand new sports hall I’m not sure that I recognise the place from 1990! Running has been part of my life since my early teens and it has enriched my life in ways that I never imagined when I started out. It is such an honour to be here and able to celebrate with fellow and aspiring athletes this brilliant facility that I hope will encourage and challenge students to take up and succeed in whatever sport and physical activity they choose. Gavin and I are now juggling my training sessions with the challenges of being parents but I would encourage people of all ages across the community, not just the young students here, to take up sport. This type of facility and the other college sports developments I’ve been hearing about will truly motivate people across the city. This amazing sports hall is ready to host the olympics!”