Olympics: Commonwealth Pool will host training camp for Team GB

EDINBURGH’S Royal Commonwealth Pool has beaten off stiff competition to be chosen as the training camp for Team GB’s swimmers as they put the finishing touches to their preparations for this summer’s Olympic Games in London.

British Swimming selected the pool ahead of venues both at home and overseas following the facility’s £37.1 million refurbishment and it will now be the team’s base in July just days before the Games begin.

Unrivalled access to the world-class RCP was at the heart of British Swimming’s decision to host the camp in Edinburgh, as well as the overall environment the city offers to athletes preparing for the biggest sporting event Britain has ever seen.

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British Swimming’s national performance director Michael Scott said: “We carried out an exhaustive search, both home and abroad, to identify the best possible environment for our camp and chose Edinburgh for all that it has to offer at this crucial time in the lead up to the London Olympics. City of Edinburgh Council is providing the team with fantastic access to a world-class aquatics facility and the historic city lends itself to a relaxed, low-key training camp at a very high-pressure time.

“We’re confident this camp will be conducive to finalising preparations and ensuring the nation’s athletes are at their very peak as they prepare to represent Team GB at the home Olympics.”

The swimmers will use the RCP, originally built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games, from 18 to 24 July. The pool will be closed to the public at certain times of day to allow the team of 40-plus swimmers and 30-plus support staff to prepare for the Games. “We appreciate all of the support the City of Edinburgh is providing to the Olympic swimming team especially those who run and use the RCP,” said Scott.

Facilities include a 50-metre pool, two 25m pools, a dry land training area and a gym and will also accommodate sport science and sport medicine services.

Edinburgh Leisure’s director of operations Graeme Gardiner said: “This is a fantastic honour for Edinburgh.”

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