First Minister for Wales Rhodri Morgan is to officially open the new Cardiff City Stadium, which will host Cardiff City and Cardiff Blues matches next season.

The First Minister said: "After more than half a century of supporting Cardiff's football and rugby teams through thick and thin, it is a fantastic privilege for me to be opening this superb new dual code stadium.

"Just a few weeks after the Ashes Test series came to Wales to the new SWALEC Stadium for the first time, now we have the new Cardiff City Stadium opening too. What a great month for sport in Cardiff. What a great day for the fans!

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"Of course many fans will look back with nostalgic warmth at great games at the old stadium. I saw Cardiff City beat Liverpool 6 - 0 fifty years ago at Ninian Park. It may be a year or two before I and my grandchildren will see that happening in the new stadium. We have to look forward to go forward. We will see thrilling action involving Cardiff City and Cardiff Blues on the journey to the top of the sporting tree.

"The venue is more than a football and rugby stadium. It is a conference and sporting venue out of the top drawer as well and needs to be full of business activity as well as sporting to pay its way and fulfil the dream. It is superbly located to do the business. I congratulate everyone who has made the dream come true."

(CD/JM)