The pair were joined by Barking MP Margaret Hodge and SportHouse chief executive and owner Mike Stimson while international athletes from the GB women's handball team and wheelchair rugby team also appeared at the launch as they will be using SportHouse as their primary training venue during London 2012.

The facility includes the UK's largest multi-use sports hall, a state of the art 300 station gym, 250 cover restaurant and bar and two full-size basketball courts.

Mayesbrook Athletics Track is located directly next door to SportHouse and was also opened by Sir Steve and Ramsamy. It was provided with £3.9 million ($6.2 million/€4.7 million) funding by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and cost a total of £8.1 million ($12.8 million/€9.7 million), while it will be open to the public from March 31.

"I was delighted to have been invited to officiate at the opening of this state-of-the-art sporting facility," said Sir Steve.


"SportHouse has the opportunity to become one of the world's premier centres of excellence while creating a lasting legacy for the local community, the wider community and young, aspiring sportspeople alike.

From July 16 to September 9, SportHouse will be handed over to London 2012 when it will be used exclusively by handball and athletics during the Olympics and judo and wheelchair rugby during the Paralympics.

Following this, it will go on to provide a lasting sporting legacy for the area, delivering world-class training facilities to the local community.

"This is a fantastic facility and I am very impressed by it," said Ramsamy, who worked in the area as a lecturer during the 1960s and 1970s.

In total, SportHouse will be used by athletes from more than 200 countries for training and final preparations leading up to and during the Olympics and Paralympics.

Dennis Hone, the chief executive of the ODA, also paid tribute to the facility.

"Our £15 million ($24 million/€18 million) investment in local sports facilities like SportHouse and the Mayesbrook track is designed to deliver a double dividend and value-for-money," he said.

"For the Olympic and Paralympic Games, there will be impressive facilities that top international athletes will use to prepare themselves for competition.

"For local people, there will be new and improved sports facilities that will always be a reminder of the summer London welcomed the world – a legacy that will endure for decades to come.

"As someone who is committed to the development of enhanced sports resources across the country it is heartening to see venues like this being made available so that talented young people can flourish in the future."

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