Netball and volleyball will also benefit when the centre opens in 1998. Talks are under way between Aberdeen City Council, the Scottish Basketball Association and Loxton Leisure, which runs a four-court centre at Stockport, Cheshire.

“These centres lend themselves very well to leagues and would allow extensive use by school clubs, complementing the excellent school sports halls we already have at St Machar’s Academy and Harlaw Academy, but no site has been finalised yet and there is a lot of planning to do,” Maureen Campbell, the city’s recreation officer, said.

Difficulties in agreeing a site acceptable to all parties has set back plans for an Edinburgh four-court centre, where Loxton Leisure has also been involved in talks.

Indoor athletics is also doing well in Aberdeen thanks to the Sportshall project. Nearly 30 primary schools are involved and groups of four come together at the nearest sports centre.

Come-and-try courses for eight to 15-year-olds have also been organised. Athletics development officer Linda Low, a former Scottish schools javelin champion, says: “It is all good fun. We use foam javelins, cardboard hurdles and other novel equipment and the children have the chance to experiment in a range of activities. There are proper warm-ups and coaching in a variety of events.”