Aspiring Olympians from the City of Bradford Swimming Club are packing their bags as they embark on a week's training in Hungary.
The elite youngsters, aged between 11 and 19, are using the trip as a team-building exercise and as preparation ahead of the 2012 Olympics in London, where many of the team hope to be representing Great Britain.
The talented group set off on October 22 and will experience two, two-hour training sessions in an eight-lane, 50m indoor pool, as well as carrying out some stretch and landing work on the pool floor.
To be eligible for the training camp, the swimmers have to be nationally qualified, gold squad members and had to finish in the top 16 individual events at either the NEC or Bagcat competitions held in May and June respectively.
The Bradford youngsters have been given the chance to train abroad after some of their contemporaries from swimming clubs in Hull, Leeds, Sheffield, Harrogate and Kirklees found it very useful in terms of training, personal development and team building.
City of Bradford Swimming Club is part of Bradford Council's Sport and Leisure Service's swimming training scheme, which provides opportunities for youngsters to enjoy the benefits and challenges of swimming through to a competitive level.
It also supports the Council's long-term b active campaign to encourage residents of all ages and abilities in the district to be more physically active.
Bradford Council's Executive Member for Regeneration and Culture, Coun Simon Cooke, said: "This is an excellent opportunity for our swimmers to travel and train with their colleagues and to experience different conditions and new training techniques, which will stand them in good stead when they are competing in the future.
"Hopefully some of the swimmers will progress and be in a position where they can represent the Bradford district in the 2012 Olympics as members of the Great Britain swimming team."
Officer/Department Contact:
Andrew Burns, b active Manager
Telephone: 01274 431882
Media Relations Officer:
Duncan Thorne,
Telephone: 01274 433526
Fax: 01274 432005
Email: press.communications@bradford.gov.uk
