St Albans has been given its very own taste of London 2012 with the installation of an adiZone – a giant multi-sport outdoor gym which aims to inspire the local community to get involved with sports and physical activities that feature in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The adiZone, which has been designed and developed by adidas, Official Sportswear Partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and co-funded by St Albans City and District Council, has been erected in Verulamium Park and is now open for business.

It is a permanent installation measuring 625sq metres and boasts sporting facilities inspired by Olympic and Paralympic sports that include a basketball, football and tennis area, a climbing wall, an outdoor gym and a freestyle area to encourage dance, aerobics and gymnastics.

Free to use, and open 365 days a year, the adiZone will serve local communities across the District as a space where people can meet socially and engage in sport and physical activity. The plan is for local sports coaches and fitness instructors to host a range of formal and informal activities at key times throughout the year to encourage residents to get active for free.

adiZones have been installed by adidas in four of the London 2012 host boroughs, and are now being introduced to towns and cities across the UK as the Olympic and Paralympic Games preparation increases. The Council successfully submitted an application to adidas for an adiZone last year, as part of a programme of improvements for Verulamium Park. The adiZone has been approved by English Heritage and the Friends of Verulamium Park, a local interest group.