Swimming shake-up to boost sport

THE biggest overhaul of swimming provision for six years in the Hambleton district is being launched in a bid to boost the dwindling number of swimmers in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics.

Hambleton District Council will launch its Big Swim campaign on January 1 after figures revealed the sport had seen a 14.9 per cent fall across the area since 2007. Supported by the Amateur Swimming Association, North Yorkshire Sport, and the British 50m breaststroke gold medallist, Chris Cook, the initiative will see a year-long celebration of swimming.

The cabinet member for health, Coun Peter Wilkinson, said: “Despite swimming being the country’s most popular participatory sport, the figures from the latest Sport England Active People survey shows there is a national downturn in it. We hope the Big Swim will encourage people to return to the water and enjoy the benefits that swimming offers.”

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A new-look swim timetable for leisure centres in Northallerton, Stokesley, Thirsk and Bedale will be available. Special discounts are also being introduced, including a weekly Olympic swim session at each centre costing just £2.12 until the closing ceremony of the games.

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