US Olympic team in talks to use London Fields Lido for training

London Fields Lido. Photo: Hackney Council

The Town Hall is in discussion with the American swimming team over the use of London Fields Lido as a training venue for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Last month Kim Wright, Hackney Council’s Corporate Director for Community Services, told the Citizen that the British swimming team had considered using the Lido for training in the run-up to the sporting event but had decided to use one of the five pools at the Olympic Park in Stratford instead.

She said: “We have spoken to the British and American teams about the use of London Fields Lido as a training venue for the 2012 Games. The British team considered the Lido as one option but decided to use one of the five pools at the Olympic Park. We are in discussions with the American team and if this is agreed, we will secure maximum benefits to our residents and ensure they can access alternative swimming facilities while the team trains.”

The Lido, which was built in the 1930s, is the capital’s only 50-metre heated outdoor pool and was reopened in 2006 following a campaign. It had been closed for 18 years.

The council is reportedly considering letting teams use the following venues: Clissold Leisure Centre, Britannia Leisure Centre, Kings Hall Leisure Centre, London Fields Lido, West Reservoir Outdoor Sports Centre and Queensbridge Community Sports Centre. But the Town Hall says that this would only be allowed so long as community benefits could be secured.

The Daily Mail last month referred, wrongly it appears, to a bidding process for the use of the lido for Olympic training. The newspaper declared that Team GB had “suffered a major defeat at the hands of their American rivals,” but no such bidding seems to have taken place.

Hackney Council recently announced that it is continuing with its free swimming programme for all under-18s and over-60s, although government funding, which covered part of the cost, stopped in July. Mayor Jules Pipe said he was committed to providing affordable swimming facilities for all Hackney residents, and that later this year he would launch a major consultation with residents about swimming in the borough.