Cardiff International Sports Village facts for kids
The Cardiff International Sports Village (which is Pentref Chwaraeon Rhyngwladol Caerdydd in Welsh) is a huge sports and leisure area. You can find it in Cardiff Bay, which is part of the city of Cardiff, Wales. It's one of the biggest projects in the UK to bring new life to an old area. This project is a team effort between the government and private companies.
The Sports Village is home to some amazing facilities. There's a 50-metre (164 ft) swimming pool that meets Olympic standards. You can also find an ice rink for skating and ice hockey. Plus, there's a thrilling white water centre for canoeing and kayaking.
These sports facilities were even used as a training spot for the London 2012 Olympics. The famous Millennium Stadium in Cardiff also hosted some of the football games during those Olympics.
In the past, there were plans for an indoor snow centre where you could ski and snowboard. There were also ideas for a tall observation tower and a huge casino. However, these plans probably won't happen now.
In 2019, the Cardiff Council approved a new plan for the Sports Village. Over the next ten years, there are plans for about 1,000 new homes. There will also be new places to eat, drink, and have fun.
History of the Sports Village Site
In the early 1800s, Welsh coal was very important around the world. Cardiff was a main place for sending this coal overseas. The land where the Sports Village is now was controlled by the Bute family back then.
In 1859, a company called the Taff Vale Railway created docks at the mouth of the river Ely. By 1898, there was a chain ferry (shown in the picture) that crossed the river. This ferry is why the nearby road is called Ferry Road today. A special underground path, called a subway, was also built. This helped dock workers get to the site easily.
There was a well-known inn called the Railway public house. It got its name because of all the train tracks that crossed the area. This inn was also known as the Red House. Sailors used it as a landmark to guide their ships. It was recently taken down.
Later, the Cardiff Bay Barrage was finished. This created a freshwater lake along the shore. The land around this lake became very valuable again. This area eventually became the Cardiff International Sports Village we know today.
Images for kids
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Ice Arena Wales, also known as the Viola Arena
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The Cardiff International Pool
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The Cardiff International White Water Centre
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Pont y Werin bridge with homes in the background
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The Cardiff Arena being taken apart
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Plans for a super-casino that were never built
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The Cogan Viaduct bridge over the River Ely
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