Artist's impression of new sport centre

The new centre, catering for 300 sports students, is to be built at Gateshead International Stadium.

Minister for Sport Richard Caborn will join Gateshead Council officials on Friday to cut the first sod and oversee the start of the building work.

One NorthEast, Active England and Northern Rock Foundation are funding the project which it is hoped will find the stars of the future.

As well as being a teaching centre of excellence, it will provide state-of-the-art sports facilities including an 83m-long athletics hall.

'Full potential'

Cllr John McElroy, cabinet member for culture at Gateshead Council, said: "The new facility will help budding Gateshead athletes develop their talent and reach their full potential.

"The facility will also have a true community and educational role in that students from Gateshead College will use the site to learn about sport."

Killingworth-based architects FaulknerBrown, the firm behind the Manchester Aquatic Centre for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, designed the centre.

The centre is being constructed by Amec and is due to be opened by winter 2005/6.

Active England is a joint project between the Big Lottery Fund and Sport England.