The "luxurious" ice rink

overshadowed by the new swim complex

For longer than I care to remember, there's been talk of an International Sports Village appearing at Cardiff Bay. Once upon a time, it was even mooted as the future home of Cardiff City - thankfully, that passed.

The plans and facilities have been dramatically scaled down and the only signs of activity over the past year or two had been a Morrision's Supermarket, a Toys'r'Us and a Harvester restaurant ... very international and sporting.

Is it Woolie's Warehouse?

No, it's the ice rink

However, this year saw the arrival on an ice rink, hopefully temporary. With an essentially wooden structure, covered by industrial UPVS sheets and everything plastic inside, it is as cheap as chips as these things get. Talk is, however, the ice rink will move back to the city centre ... and away from the sports village.

Arise new swimming pool ... awaited since 1998!

However, a far more impressive sight emerging - at last! - is a new 50M metre pool and modern swimming/leisure complex. Not before time as it's now 9 years since our council cocked up big time and lost us a key facility in the city with Swansea then being awarded a national pool. A replacement has been far too long in the making but, from its outside, it looks as if Cardiff will finally have a state-of-the-art venue.