Construction work has begun on the National Judo Dojo at the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff.

The £1.1m centre is expected to open in August 2009 and will include international competition-standard facilities as well as a sports science and medicine centre.

Ken Evans, contract manager at Jehu Project Services, the construction company building the centre, said: "It will be a national facility for both training and competition and, with the Olympics just three years away, it will attract elite athletes from across Britain."

Philip Carling, chair of the Sports Council for Wales, said "These developments are part of a long term programme to ensure the Welsh Institute of Sport is recognised as the centre for high performance in Wales."