The sport of swimming is the second biggest participation sport in the UK and as the nation strives to improve its health and fitness, the popularity of swimming continues to grow. Teaching, Training and participating in competitive swimming is very active in London.
British Swimming is the national governing body for Swimming, Diving, Competitive Swimming, Synchronised swimming, Water polo and Open Water in Great Britain. It is responsible internationally for the high performance representation of the sport. [1]
London Swimming oversees Swimming, Diving, Competitive Swimming, Synchronised swimming, Water polo and Open Water in the region and organises annual swimming championships. Clubs in the London Region compete in one of the following County Championships depending on location in London : Kent County, Essex County, Middlesex County or Surrey County.
London clubs generally compete in the National Swimming League (London) although some swim in other regions, with over 500 clubs competing nationally. [2] It was in 1964 that the original idea was born within llford Swimming Club, that there might be interest amongst progressive clubs to form a League consisting of a membership from a much wider area than Essex County, which was then the limit of the 'local league', which had been started in 1952 with just five clubs. Suggestions were put to the Southern Counties A.S.A. Executive, but they felt unable to take on and organize such a scheme, as they were already overloaded with work. However, approval was given for the Clubs to go ahead on their own.
All of the clubs swim in pools in the London region and some swim at 50 metre pools at London Aquatics Centre, Brockwell Lido, Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, Gurnell Leisure Centre, Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex, and London Fields Lido.
Synchronised swimming or artistic swimming, is a hybrid form of swimming, dance, and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing a synchronised routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music. Artistic swimming is governed internationally by FINA, and has been part of the Summer Olympics programme since 1984.
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs, the body, or both. Humans can hold their breath underwater and undertake rudimentary locomotive swimming within weeks of birth, as a survival response.
Brockwell Lido is a large lido in Brockwell Park, Herne Hill, London. It opened in July 1937, closed in 1990 and after a local campaign was re-opened in 1994. Two ex council employees Paddy and Casey took on the running of the Lido for the community. Lambeth council gave Paddy & Casey a peppercorn lease rate from 1994–2001. Lambeth gave them a one-year extension in 2002 whilst a public consultation was held to decide on the longer term sustainable future of the Lido.
The National Aquatic Centre (NAC) is an indoor aquatics facility in Blanchardstown, Fingal, Ireland. The Centre houses a 50 metre swimming pool with an associated diving pool, an aquapark and leisure pool, and a fitness centre.
Swim Ireland is the national governing body of swimming, diving, water polo, open water swimming and synchronised swimming in the island of Ireland. Competitors from Northern Ireland can opt to compete for British Swimming in international competitions, with the exception of the Commonwealth Games where they can compete for Northern Ireland.
The Manchester Aquatics Centre, abbreviated MAC, is a public aquatics sports facility south of the city centre of Manchester, England, north of the main buildings of the University of Manchester near Manchester Metropolitan University. It was purpose built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and cost £32 million to build.
British Swimming is the national governing body of swimming, water polo, synchronised swimming, diving and open water in Great Britain. British Swimming is a federation of the national governing bodies of England, Scotland, and Wales. These three are collectively known as the Home Country National Governing Bodies.
The London Aquatics Centre is an indoor facility with two 50-metre (164-foot) swimming pools and a 25-metre (82-foot) diving pool in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London. The centre, one of the main venues of the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Paralympics, was used for the swimming, diving and synchronised swimming events. After significant modification, the centre opened to the public in March 2014.
The sport of swimming is the second biggest participation sport in the UK and as the nation strives to improve its health and fitness, the popularity of swimming continues to grow. Teaching, Training and participating in competitive swimming is very active in Kent.
Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL), operating under the brand "Better", is a non-profit charitable Social Enterprise organisation which runs over 250 sport and leisure facilities and libraries on behalf of local authorities in London and across the UK, as well as its own internal college and the "Healthwise" programme. Its headquarters is in Middlegate House, the 1810-built former storekeeper's mansion at Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, South East London.
Swim England is the brand name for the Amateur Swimming Association, the first sport governing body of swimming to be established in the world and today remains the English national governing body for swimming, diving, water polo, open water swimming, and synchronised swimming. It is closely linked with British Swimming, a federation of the national governing bodies of England, Scotland, and Wales. These three are collectively known as the Home Country National Governing Bodies.
The John Charles Centre for Sport is a sports facility in South Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was previously named the South Leeds Stadium and was renamed to honour John Charles (1931–2004), the former Leeds United, Juventus F.C. and Wales footballer. It is located to the south of Leeds city centre roughly on the border of Beeston, Belle Isle and Hunslet. The sports centre opened in 1996.
Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. The sport takes place in pools or open water. Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic sports, with varied distance events in butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, and individual medley. In addition to these individual events, four swimmers can take part in either a freestyle or medley relay. A medley relay consists of four swimmers who will each swim a different stroke, ordered as backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.
Bristol has a number of notable professional sports teams and a large number of active amateur sports clubs. There are also large numbers of participants in individual sports. The city has two Football League clubs, Bristol City F.C. who play in the second tier and Bristol Rovers F.C. who play in the third tier. Gloucestershire County Cricket Club has its headquarters in the city. Bristol Bears are currently in Premiership Rugby.
Water Polo has a long and distinguished history in Dorset, and is arguably the location for the world's first ever structured Water Polo match - held in 1876 off Bournemouth Pier.
Out to Swim is a British swimming, water polo and synchro club for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people and their friends. The club also accepts straight men and women. The club was founded by AGM when the name was agreed in March 1992. In 2006 "Out to Swim South" was formed in Brighton and Hove and 2018 "Out To Swim West" in Bristol.
The West London Penguin Swimming and Water Polo Club is a masters swimming and water polo club based in London. It is an Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) registered club in the London region. The masters swimming teams are composed of male and female swimmers of all ages, with an intermediate level for casual and former competitive swimmers and the advanced level for more experienced and competitive swimmers. Some swimmers are also nationally ranked.
Nottingham Leander Swimming Club is a volunteer run competitive swimming club in Nottingham.
Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) is the national governing body for swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, water polo and open water swimming in Singapore. Founded in 1939 as the Singapore Amateur Swimming Association (SASA), the body adopted its current name in 2002. It has been a member of FINA since 1939, and is one of 43 members of the Asia Swimming Federation.
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