The Velodrome is named after the late Dunc Gray, who won Australia's first Olympic gold medal in cycling at Los Angeles in 1932
History
The Velodrome was officially dedicated on 28 November 1999. Costing around $42 million, the Velodrome was funded by the State Government and developed by the Olympic Coordination Authority. The former Bankstown Council provided funding for the upgrading of nearby sporting facilities, amenities, parking, landscaping and roadworks.
Features
The Velodrome features a 250m long, international standard Baltic pine track designed and built by Australian Ron Webb, who also built the Olympic cycling track in Seoul and tracks in Adelaide, Perth, Manchester and Athens.
The track bank is at an angle of 42 degrees while the straight is at a 12.5-degree angle. The Velodrome hosted six days of track cycling during the Sydney Olympics along with Paralympic cycling.
When viewed from above, the Velodrome looks like a giant cycling helmet - yet it blends easily into the sporting landscape at The Crest.It covers a total area of about 11,000 square metres or the equivalent of two rugby fields under one roof. The Velodrome has permanent seating for 3,000 spectators and during the Olympics housed about 6,000 spectators a day.
The track has a lower infield to cater for other sports and events, such as indoor hockey and soccer.
The Velodrome is used for all levels of cycling, including high performance cycling, the coaching and training of elite athletes, sports development and club and school competitions and training.