The East of Scotland Track Promoters' Association (ESTPA) has announced a new partnership arrangement with the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) who currently own the velodrome at Meadowbank Sports Centre in the North East of the city.

The partnership arrangement will allow the velodrome to remain in use for the foreseeable future and encourage elite athletes as well as grass-roots cycling development to continue in the run up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Marco Librizzi Commonwealth Games Men’s Team Sprint, bronze medallist  in Manchester 2002 said: “This partnership agreement is a fantastic development for Scottish track racing, keeping a velodrome open in Edinburgh is key to developing grass roots track cyclists who, in turn, will become the champions of the future.”

ESTPA will be responsible for the management and control of all cycling activities, as well as the equipment at the velodrome. CEC will continue their support to cycling in Edinburgh, together with the ESTPA team of officials. Over the last 30 years, they have developed the sport of track cycling at the velodrome by promoting events and by the provision and maintenance of track machines and equipment. This has encouraged young beginners to take up the sport and aspire to become champions.

Cycling and community groups will be able to hire the velodrome for a range of training, competition and accreditation activities. Bookings can be made for “try the track sessions” to allow keen cyclists to experience the thrill of riding on the boards that have produced and nurtured Scotland’s Commonwealth, World and Olympic champions.

The Scottish Track Championships (incorporating a round of the National Sprinters League) are due to be held at Meadowbank on 23 June 2012. For more information or to enter online, click here.