In 1991, Sheffield hosted the Universiade, otherwise known as the World Student Games, a sporting event for students in higher education.

Over 3,000 athletes from over 100 nations took part in the Games, which ran from 14 to 25 July 1991.

As the city committed to provide the facilities, needed to promote a large sporting event, new venues were built. The main site was the Don Valley Stadium (a multi-purpose 25,000 seater stadium). The Ponds Forge Swimming Pool and the Sheffield Arena (with 10,000 seats and exhibition centre) were also built, whilst the Lyceum Theatre was renovated as part of the cultural element of the bid.

Moreover, figures provided by Sheffield City Council – supported by studies completed at Sheffield University – suggested that the games would directly create around 2,000 jobs.

However, 20 years on – and after refinancing – the initial cost of building works (£147 million) has risen to £650 million, with less than half (£296 million) having been paid off.

At the same time, as revealed by the Star, the council currently spends £30 million a year to fulfill its financial obligations and it is estimated this debt will not be paid off until 2024.

These cost issues have raised controversy, as ruling Liberal Democrats have also pointed to the cost of paying for them.

Council leader Paul Scriven stated: “This city has done remarkably well, absorbing £84m of budget cuts over the coming year, compared with other major cities around the country.

“But my job would have been much easier without having to hand over a huge amount of taxpayers’ money each year to cover Labour’s legacy of debt from the World Student Games.

“The economic benefit of events held at venues such as Ponds Forge and the Don Valley Stadium is £6m per year – but that is dwarfed by the interest bill.”

On the other hand Sheffield South East Labour MP Clive Betts, council leader during the Games, responded: “Labour borrowed the money to build facilities that are extremely well-used and an asset for Sheffield.

“The final refinancing plan was approved when the Lib Dems were last in power, between 1999 and 2002.”

As this controversy goes on, it will be interesting to see if it will affect the result of the local elections and the referendum.

By Dimitris Souliotis and Peter Sun

For how the World Student Games affected the Labour Party, since 1991, please check out JUS News’ feature on the issue.