Saturday 18 September 2010

'MILESTONE SESSION' CELEBRATES BELFAST’S FIRST URBAN SPORTS PARK
High Octane Urban Sports Jam in Titanic Quarter Kicks Off ‘Bridges’

It’s underway. That’s the message local charity outfit Belfast Urban Sports (BUS) will be delivering when they throw a free urban sports jam for all comers on Saturday 18th September. The BUS boys will be celebrating the imminent construction of Northern Ireland’s first ever purpose built Urban Sports Park, called ‘Bridges’ – after five years of hard work.

To mark the occasion the BUS boys are hosting a free, one-off celebration of street culture called the ‘Milestone Session’ – in a massive derelict warehouse in the Titanic Quarter, coined T13, after Belfast Urban Sport’s ‘Unit 13’ headquarters in Dunmurry. The event, co-hosted by Belfast City Council, will be a unique mix of high-octane displays from Ireland’s leading BMX, Skate and Blade athletes, hip-hop and break dancing displays, live graffiti, skate workshops for children, 3 on 3 street basketball and live performances from top local bands – many of whom are featuring in Belfast Music Week.

Belfast Urban Sports Director Liam Lynch comments: “We have been working hard alongside Belfast City Council to bring Northern Ireland’s first ever purpose built Urban Sports Park to Belfast and we are stoked that construction is about to start. The Milestone Session gives us the chance to celebrate this – and give the public a taster of what’s in store at Bridges.”

The new park ‘Bridges Urban Sports Park’ will be located under the M3 flyover in Belfast and is due for completion in early 2011. Funding for the venue was secured through the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.
Councillor Conor Maskey, Chairman of Belfast City Council’s Development Committee adds: "Belfast's music scene has much in common with urban sports:  both are about pushing back the boundaries, exploring new experiences and taking things to the next level.  It is great that both these disciplines are coming together during Belfast Music Week to demonstrate their respective talents in an exciting, fresh and innovative manner and location." 
For a glimpse of some world-class BMX, skate and blade athletes in action and the chance to win some fantastic prizes including Easyjet flights and BMX bikes come along to the Milestone Session on 18th September. Entry is free. The party starts at noon and runs all day until 6pm.

For further information on urban sports in Northern Ireland visit www.ramprage.tv