Funding threat for sports stars

The facility was opened by Sebastian Coe in 2006

There are fears that North East athletes could soon be forced to train out of the region following changes to sports funding.

The multi-purpose English Institute of Sports (EIS) facility opened in 2006 at Gateshead International Stadium.

But now sports are being allowed to control their own funds, specialist centres are more likely to benefit.

EIS chairman Steve Cram said he would try to work with funding body UK Sport to keep athletic talent in the region.

Mr Cram said: "A lot of our elite young athletes do get pulled by their sports into centralised programmes so there are less of them to be serviced here where they live in the North East.

The facilities are excellent - my concern is that it's going to become a white elephant

Peter Stanley, athletics coach

"But we're pretty confident that by working in partnership with the other end of elite sport, particularly the professional teams, that we can try to protect the positions that are at Gateshead in the short term.

"And we will look to work with the governing bodies in the medium to long term to make sure we keep that talent in the North East."

The Gateshead EIS facility was opened by Sebastian Coe in May 2006, and offers sports science and specialist training advice.

Doctors, physiotherapists, and sports and fitness coaches - including former Olympic sprinter Jared Deacon - work at the centre.

Athletics coach Peter Stanley said: "We try to use the facilities as an attraction for people to come and join and do the various sports, not just athletics."

"The facilities are excellent - my concern is that it's going to become a white elephant," he added.