Hundreds of University staff and students are set to take the plunge by taking up the offer of free swimming lessons at the new state of the art Aberdeen Aquatics Centre.
With the combination of the New Aquatics Centre opening and Glasgow 2014’s Commonwealth Games, it’s set to be an incredible year for the sport of swimming.
But do the efforts of Scots swimmers Michael Jamieson, Hannah Miley and Robbie Renwick inspire you to get in the pool yourself? If so, you can take advantage of free swimming lessons with the University of Aberdeen’s Sport and Exercise Team.
The scheme – aimed at beginners – is part of the Commonwealth Legacy, and will admit more than 280 first timers to a five week block of lessons.
“The Aberdeen Aquatics Centre is a world class facility that will benefit swimmers, and current non-swimmers, of all different levels of ability,” explained Gillian Kerr of the University’s Sports and Exercise Team.
“These free lessons, available to staff and students, reinforce that the facility is not just for our elite users but for anyone interested in swimming or water sports at any level.
“We want as many people as possible to benefit from the new facility, and anyone completing these swimming lessons will then be able to go on and take other classes and enjoy all the features the aquatic centre has to offer.
“Ten out of the University’s 56 student sports teams require members to be able to swim – from water polo, to canoeing or even triathlon – so this scheme will open up a number of new opportunities for participants.”
The lessons, which will be 30 minutes in length, will commence during the first week in February and are scheduled to take place on Wed afternoons and early on Friday mornings. The first block of lessons will be held in King’s Pavilion swimming pool, with blocks two and three taking place in the new Aberdeen Aquatics Centre.
Interested parties can register their interest for the classes at King’s Pavilion or by calling Kings on: 01224 272309 from today (January 20).
Any questions regarding the swimming lessons should be emailed to Gillian Kerr at g.kerr@abdn.ac.uk