Olympic pool bid for Preston (From Preston and Leyland Citizen)

Olympic pool bid for Preston

10:58am Thursday 4th September 2008

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Preston swimmers could soon be following in the footsteps of the Beijing gold medallists if an Olympic-standard swimming pool is built in the city.

A steering group called Lancashire 2012, part of the Lancashire Sports Partnership, has been working since June last year to “make sure the people of Lancashire are inspired by London 2012”.

It has earmarked cycling and swimming as its legacy sports and plans are now afoot for a 50m Olympic-standard pool and an outdoor cycling centre in the county.

Talks are still ongoing over the exact location of the pool but The Citizen understands that Preston is the first choice of all parties concerned.

The cycling centre is set to be built in East Lancashire.

The proposals, which could also include the creation of an “Olympic village” with retail units, have been welcomed by the Preston Sports Forum and Preston Swimming Club.

The club which currently meets at West View and Fulwood leisure centres, is already producing top swimmers including World Youth Champion Daniel Sliwinski, 18.

Club chairman Peter Mason, who is also chairman of the forum, said: “There is no 50m swimming pool in Lancashire which means that our swimmers, such as Daniel who is a real 2012 gold medal hopeful, have to travel to Manchester to use the facilities there.”

He said that local swimmers have to get up at 5am to get to Manchester to swim before the pools open to the public.

“A need has been identified and it would give us a real base to train future Olympic champions,” he went on.

Club captain Daniel, from Penwortham, collected a gold medal and smashed two records at the World Youth Swimming Championships in Mexico in July.

And, as proof of his 2012 credentials, he won the men's 100m breaststroke in a time faster than Duncan Goodhew claimed the 100m gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Mr Mason added: “There is a real will in Preston to make this happen and we are hopeful that this will become a reality.”

Meanwhile, London 2012 supremo - and former Olympic gold medal winner - Lord Seb Coe will visit Preston later this month and tour existing facilities in the city including the Preston Sports Arena.

Lord Coe, who won the 1500m gold medal at the Olympics in 1980 and 1984, will meet with members of Lancs Sports Partnership and visit a number of facilities in the county on September 23 as part of a nationwide tour.

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