The £24m National BMX Centre will open its doors to the public this week after development began in 2009. All pictures courtesy of Mark Waugh at www.markwaugh.net.

Young cyclists were given an opportunity to ride on tracks at the 2,000 seat arena during an open day on Saturday. Manchester City Council said discounted sessions will be available to schoolchildren.

The new facility is expected to host major BMX events. It will also be used as a training centre for UK cyclists in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

The centre is built alongside Manchester's Velodrome and is part of the National Cycling Centre.

The cost of the building was £19m, with a further £5m spent on improving the public realm, including a new bridge linking the National Cycling Centre to the Metrolink.

Eddie Smith, chief executive at New East Manchester, said: "The arena secures Manchester as the home of British cycling and gives Manchester the ability to host international BMX events. It also provides the British Cycling Federation with new offices for 200 staff."

Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council 's Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "The world’s finest will train here, and young people from east Manchester will get the opportunity to use the facilities and aim for the highest awards in the sport of BMX."

Former BMX world champion Shanaze Read, who represented the United Kingdom at the 2008 Olympics, was at the open day to try out the new tracks. The new centre is expected to attract elite cyclists and beginners alike.

The 110,000 square foot centre was funded by Manchester City Council, Sport England and the European Regional Development Fund.