World class sports institute earmarked as neighbor for Manchester City stadium

LONDON, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) confirmed Friday it plans to establish an Institute of Sport next to the city's Etihad Stadium, home of English Premier League leaders Manchester City.

A multi-million dollars project is expected to kick-start the next stage of regeneration in the east side of the city.

A report from Manchester City Council confirmed that the Manchester Metropolitan Institute of Sport will be located within a new Sports and Innovation Zone. The zone already includes an athletics track and the squash center.

According to the council report a higher education presence led by MMU would underpin the development of a globally significant sports, leisure and recreation economic cluster attracting new industry partners to Manchester and driving forward new business start-ups. It would also help attract new world-leading professional sports organisations to Manchester.

"The academic facilities for the Manchester Metropolitan Institute of Sport would begin to change the economic profile of the area and attract start-ups and organisations through research linked to the business and culture of sport," says the report.

Sports facilities in the area, including what is now the Etihad Stadium, were originally built to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

A Manchester Metropolitan University spokesman said the university is in advanced discussions with Manchester City Council and City Football Group about the development of a world-class, sport-focused academic facility at the Etihad Campus. Enditem