THE man who will design the cycle track for Glasgow's showpiece Commonwealth Games in 2014 admits he's more of an architect than a cyclist.
THE man who will design the cycle track for Glasgow's showpiece Commonwealth Games in 2014 admits he's more of an architect than a cyclist.
On a flying visit to Glasgow, Ralph Schurmann quipped: "I do cycle, but if you see me, I could do more.
"My brother is a good cyclist - I am the theorist but he's the practical guy.
Chris's dad: I want name to honour ArthurDAVID HOY, father of Olympic triple gold medallist Chris, says Glasgow's new velodrome shouldn't be named after his son - but after Arthur Campbell MBE.Mr Campbell, a well-known city cycling figure, died in 2007, aged 89. Just before his death, he was producing plans for a velodrome in Glasgow in anticipation of the city bidding for the 2014 games. Last month, Glasgow City Council paid tribute to Chris Hoy's Beijing success. Council leader Steven Purcell said: "I can think of no better way of marking his historic success than by naming Scotland's only world-class track cycling facility after him." Mr Hoy senior said this week it was a "fantastic honour" but "premature" for an athlete still competing. He added: "There are perhaps other names I would put on the velodrome. "I would have voted for the Arthur Campbell Velodrome, not the Chris Hoy Velodrome." Mr Campbell left school at 14 to work for a coalman in Bridgeton. He was President of Scottish Cyclist Union for 32 years, from 1952 until 1984, the first person to be chairman of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland for two terms, and was general team manager at the Games of 1982 and 1990. |
"I know how to design the tracks but he must ride them."
The family company, Schurmann Architects, based in Munster, Germany, is one of the world's leading designers of velodromes.
It devised the spectacular Beijing Olympics veledrome, frequently likened to a giant flying saucer, at which Scot Chris Hoy memorably raced to three cycling golds last month.
The firm has been involved in the design of nearly 130 velodromes worldwide, including the ones used at six Olympics before Beijing.
Together with the adjacent National Indoor Sports Arena, the 4000-seat velodrome will form a key venue at the Glasgow Games in six years' time.
Hoy's father David, a consultant on the project, said: "As far as Scottish cycling is concerned, having Ralph Schurmann involved in the design of this track is the best news we have had for a long time. He is truly world-class."
Mr Schurmann, grandson of the company's founder, said the venue will be "architecturally striking".
The actual velodrome building has been designed by sports venue specialists, Sport Concepts.
Mr Schurmann said he was impressed by plans for the £92million complex near Celtic Park, consisting of the velodrome and indoor arena.
"I like the design of the complex," he said. "It's a nice setting with the two buildings, and it looks very impressive."
He added: "Designing velodromes is a good task for an architect - you do it for the user, the cyclist.
"When we build a new track, the best moment is when a cyclist smiles after one or two laps. Then we know that we have done our work well.
"It must be the best possible design and quality we are capable of - that is our demand for every track we do.
"The last one is always the best, because all the experience goes into that, and we are always trying to invent new details, new small tricks to answer the demands of cycling.
"Although we have been doing this for many years, I think we are getting better all the time."
David Hoy said he was glad that the velodrome and arena would be so close to Glasgow city centre.
"There is one fantastic thing from my point of view," he said.
"At most big games there is a premium on who gets into the centre, and very often the velodrome is stuck out on an industrial estate, 10 miles from anywhere."
The velodrome is expected to be ready by 2011, with a major cycling event being held there the following year, giving it plenty of time to bed down before 2014.
Once the Games are over, it is hoped that the venue will stage major championships as well as being a training venue for elite cyclists and a place where youngsters can learn how to cycle.
Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for Common-wealth Games Delivery, said: "The people of Glasgow and indeed the Commonwealth deserve nothing less than the best and the appointment of Ralph Schurmann shows we will deliver on that.
"The plans for the National Indoor Sports Arena and the Velodrome are key not only to the delivery of the Games, but to our goal of providing a lasting legacy for the city."
John Scott, Chief Executive of Glasgow 2014, added: "We promised to deliver world-class venues, which will be enjoyed by the world's finest athletes and the appointment of Ralph Schurmann will ensure that is the case.
"His whole life has revolved around cycling and providing the best possible facilities.
"I've no doubt with his impressive design pedigree that we can all look forward to a truly outstanding facility."
