We have launched an exciting new initiative, which started on 13th August 2011 and will run into 2012, to encourage and inspire children to take part in Olympic aquatic sports. There will be a series of events across the country providing up to 400 free spaces (at each event) for children aged 7 to 14 years old to experience four different Olympic aquatic sports from diving and synchro to fast swimming and water polo.
The events feature a morning or afternoon session of skills and games across the different aquatic disciplines, with every participant getting the chance to try each of the sports by rotating through the stations. Each station will be led by an Olympic or Commonwealth athlete, an expert in the discipline, who will provide instruction and encourage the children to take part and most of all have fun doing it!. The athletes will be introduced at the beginning of the event and the children (and their families) will have the opportunity to meet the Olympians outside of the pool for autographs, photos and the showing of Olympic and Commonwealth medals.
Each child will receive a Zoggs Oceans of Fun swimming hat and be presented with a medal at the end of the event – after having the chance to compete in a mini water polo tournament and, finally, a race against an Olympian!
Steve Parry hosted the first event, at the DC Leisure operated Elmbridge Xcel Leisure Complex in Walton-on-Thames, alongside Olympic star Ross Davenport, fresh from returning from the World Swimming Championships in Shanghai where he swam his fastest time in two years making him one to watch for 2012, and accomplished member of the British Water Polo Team and 2012 hopeful Jake Vincent.
Steve Parry said: "We are really excited to have teamed up with Zoggs to run this series of Zoggs Oceans of Fun Days. Zoggs is a swim brand with a real passion for swimming and, by using role models in the form of Olympic and Commonwealth athletes, we hope to inspire, motivate and educate young people who will have the chance to come along and take part in these events for free."
"They will not only learn a huge amount at these events but get a once in a lifetime chance to swim against a top athlete and, we hope, begin to understand the benefits, and enjoyment, of adopting an active, healthy lifestyle."
Diary of upcoming events
01252 723208
SW15 1BL
0208 785 0388
You can see more information on the Facebook event
