British Swimming unveils new centres- 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00
British Swimming has unveiled a new nationwide network of Intensive Training Centres (ITC) designed to build on the sport’s successes at the Beijing Games ahead of London 2012.
British Swimming will operate ITCs at key 50m pool and training facilities at the University of Bath, Stirling, Stockport and Wales National Pool in Swansea.
The inclusion to the network of Loughborough University is also nearing completion with the current contract in place, as a centre of excellence, being updated to also reflect that of an ITC.
The eventual network of five ITCs, combined with improved support to club programmes, is the focus of a strategy to build a system in Britain that will lead to long-term sustainable success for the sport in the international arena. The aim is to make the ITCs operational by the end of the current year.
The national governing body received 10 bids in response to an invitation to tender and after a detailed comparative evaluation, site visits and interviews were held with nine candidates over a two-week period.
British Swimming was impressed with all responses received from the candidates and six were short-listed for more detailed analysis before a decision on the final five was made.
UK Sport, which funds the Swimming World Class Programme, has been fully engaged in and supportive of the ITC concept since its inception some nine months ago.
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