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Jessica Ennis's Don Valley Stadium will close Jessica Ennis's Don Valley Stadium will close
(35 minutes later)
The Sheffield stadium where Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis trains is to be closed.The Sheffield stadium where Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis trains is to be closed.
The demolition of the Don Valley Stadium, which cost £29m, is part of cost-saving measures approved by the city council.The demolition of the Don Valley Stadium, which cost £29m, is part of cost-saving measures approved by the city council.
The authority said the £700,000 it spent on the arena in 2012-13 was unsustainable as the stadium was running at a loss.The authority said the £700,000 it spent on the arena in 2012-13 was unsustainable as the stadium was running at a loss.
Ennis said the loss of Don Valley was a "huge shame" for Sheffield.Ennis said the loss of Don Valley was a "huge shame" for Sheffield.
Before the decision was taken, sports minister Hugh Robertson, said he hoped the stadium would not close. Before the decision was taken, sports minister Hugh Robertson said he hoped the stadium would not close.
'Financial disaster''Financial disaster'
He said: "That stadium is extraordinarily emblematic and the fact that Jess Ennis was such a crucial figure last summer only adds to that.He said: "That stadium is extraordinarily emblematic and the fact that Jess Ennis was such a crucial figure last summer only adds to that.
"It means a lot to Sheffield, which is one of this country's great sporting cities and I really hope the council recognise that and do everything possible to keep it open.""It means a lot to Sheffield, which is one of this country's great sporting cities and I really hope the council recognise that and do everything possible to keep it open."
During a heated debate about the cost-saving budget and the proposed closure of the Don Valley stadium, Liberal Democrat councillor Simon Clement-Jones said the World Student Games, which were hosted at the stadium in 1991, was "one of the biggest financial disasters Sheffield has seen". The 25,000-seat stadium was built as the centrepiece of a £147 million scheme when Sheffield hosted the 1991 World Student Games.
As the five-hour-long meeting progressed, questions about where Jess Ennis trained were raised. Labour councillors of the time were criticised for landing the city with hundreds of millions of pounds of debt that is still being paid off at around £20m a year and will not be cleared until 2024.
Her coach, Tony Minichiello, said the athlete used Don Valley "at least twice a week for outdoor training". During a heated debate about the cost-saving budget and the closure of the stadium, Liberal Democrat councillor Simon Clement-Jones said the student games was "one of the biggest financial disasters Sheffield has seen".
The athlete is a member of Sheffield Athletics Club, whose members train at the stadium. During the five-hour meeting, Jess Ennis's coach, Tony Minichiello, said the athlete used Don Valley "at least twice a week for outdoor training".
'Massive disappointment''Massive disappointment'
She said the venue held "great memories" as it was where she started her athletic career. She earlier said the venue held "great memories" as it was where she started her athletic career.
"It's a huge shame. To see it demolished would be a massive, massive disappointment," she said."It's a huge shame. To see it demolished would be a massive, massive disappointment," she said.
"We've achieved so much as a country in the London Olympics, so to lose some great facilities sends out the wrong message, really."We've achieved so much as a country in the London Olympics, so to lose some great facilities sends out the wrong message, really.
"I understand budgets and costs, but I think we need to find a way to keep it.""I understand budgets and costs, but I think we need to find a way to keep it."
The plan will see Don Valley Stadium close and the smaller Woodburn Road Athletics Stadium refurbished and reopened.The plan will see Don Valley Stadium close and the smaller Woodburn Road Athletics Stadium refurbished and reopened.
Sheffield City Council is making £50m of cuts in 2013-14 on top of £140m cuts already made in the past two years.Sheffield City Council is making £50m of cuts in 2013-14 on top of £140m cuts already made in the past two years.
The authority said it understood nobody wanted to see the stadium close but it could not afford to continue subsidising it.The authority said it understood nobody wanted to see the stadium close but it could not afford to continue subsidising it.
Ennis's coach, Toni Minichiello, told BBC Radio 5 live that he believed the closure would happen.Ennis's coach, Toni Minichiello, told BBC Radio 5 live that he believed the closure would happen.
He said: "It means athletics in Sheffield won't have a 400m track to train on."He said: "It means athletics in Sheffield won't have a 400m track to train on."
The stadium was also the temporary home of Rotherham United FC for four seasons and has hosted gigs by Michael Jackson and the Spice Girls.