Pacific Island Countries are ready to use Facilities in Preston

Countries from the Pacific Islands want their most promising swimmers to train at Preston Swimming Club in the build up to the 2012 Olympics in London.

Adrian Ibbetson the academic director of sport at UCLan says that “the Pacific island swimmers could train with the Gallagher squad at Preston Swimming Club because they have one of the best swimming set ups in the country.”

Despite this the swimming pool which Preston swimming club use at West View Leisure Centre is only a 25 metre pool and in the Olympics, competitors compete in a 50 metre pool.



Uploaded on February 23, 2008 by xiaming
Beijing 2008's National Aquatic Centre – 50 metre swimming pool

It seems strange that a country would specifically choose to use a swimming facility which does not match the length of the Olympic sized pool.
Although there are plans to build an Olympic size swimming pool in Preston, this is unlikely to happen in the near future.

Chief backing
In September 2008 Lord Sebastian Coe the organising chief of the London Olympics visited the city and threw his weight behind the plans.

He said “you need good facilities and while there are facilities here, I of course back the calls for a 50 metre pool here in Preston” (Preston Citizen website)

The British Olympic Committee is looking to build a strong future for sport in Britain. And to show people that the 2012 games will not just have a positive effect on London but on areas right across the country.

Lack of Facilities
Athletes which represent the Pacific Islands will have little or no access to swimming facilities in their own country.

So the facilities which are presently available in Preston are still considerably better than in the Pacific Islands.


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