Inside UK stadium in disrepair that was the site of FA Cup finals hosted Usain Bolt
An stadium in London that once hosted Usain Bolt and was the site of FA Cup finals has been left in disrepair.
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace now looks tired and grotty when it was once an amphitheatre of sporting greatness.
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Lodged between the Bowl and the dinosaurs in Crystal Palace Park, the sports ground is looking extremely dilapidated.
It has fallen into such a state of disrepair that it seems improbable that it could have hosted such major events in the past.
It was only in 2009 when Jamaican sprinter Bolt was in town, striding to victory at the 2009 Men's 100m Final at the London Grand Prix.
However, the 19,000-capacity stadium stopped hosting the London Grand Prix after 2012.
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But the site has played host to many more iconic sporting moments, such as Lord Seb Coe in 1977 and FA Cup finals.
As an up-and-coming talent in athletics, Coe smashed the 800m at the Coca-Cola Games at the venue, doing so in 1:44.95, claiming his first UK outdoor record in the process.
As the home of athletics in the United Kingdom, many stars utilised its track and facilities.
The site was also used for football purposes and it was the home of the FA Cup final from 1895 to 1914.
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While it was opened in 1965, the land that the stadium was built on was the same land after the original was destroyed by a fire in 1934.
Now, the sports centre is looking in need of refreshing where it has been neglected.
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Areas are still allowed to be used, such as the field but in 2022, the council temporarily shut it down completely due to the concrete pillar that held up the scoreboard and floodlights, which were deemed unsafe.
The floodlights have since been removed but now athletes training there are only able to do so in daylight hours.
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And just days ago work began on improving the athletics track as London Mayor Sadiq Khan's pledge to help the Sports Centre begins.
In May, Mr Khan said: “Crystal Palace National Sports Centre is a historic and much-loved sporting and community facility where many UK sporting stars have started their careers and trained, but which is in need of major investment and refurbishment.
“I am completely committed to this once-in-a-generation redevelopment of the site which will secure its future for decades to come. While work continues apace on our vision for the long-term future of the centre, I am delighted to announce that we intend to make a number of early improvements that we hope will make a huge difference to users of the centre.
“Over the coming months, we will continue to work closely with key stakeholders - including sporting bodies and wider community groups - to deliver an outstanding venue that our capital and our country can be proud of.”
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