Local cash boost from Olympic swimming squads
Dublin People 09 Mar 2012
THE National Aquatic Centre (NAC) in Blanchardstown
this week welcomes its first international Olympic squad, one of 12 that will
train in the Dublin 15 facility prior to the London Olympics.
The Korean National swimming team will train in the
50-metre pool throughout the week in a trip that is expected to generate
?¬50,000
in revenue for the local economy.
The team is the first of five that have chosen the
NAC’s top-class facilities as a training ground in the run-up to their
participation in the London Olympics.
It’s estimated that the camps will be worth over
?¬500,000
to the local area.
But it’s not only revenue that the camps will bring as
the American Synchronised Swimming Team will also bring excitement and
entertainment when they give members of the public a sneak preview of the
performance they hope will scoop them a gold medal in the Olympics.
The Dublin 15 NAC facility is well used and hugely
popular with athletes from both home and abroad.
All Swim Ireland’s elite swimmers use the pools in the
NAC while the centre also played host to Water Polo Olympic champions Hungary
and the Great Britain national swimming and Paralympic teams last year.
According to David Conway, Director of Operations at
the NAC, each camp is worth an estimated
?¬50,000 to the local area when you
factor in hotel bookings, transport and spending.
“We are delighted to this week welcome the Korean
National Swimming squad to the National Aquatic Centre and Dublin 15,
? he told
Northside People.
“It just shows that the NAC is a world class facility.
Not only is the centre a national asset but it’s a local amenity for everyone
to enjoy.
“This is one of 12 nations using the NAC which is of
great benefit to Dublin 15 economically and from a prestige point of view.
?
Next month, the NAC will play host to the USA
Synchronized Swimming Team who will perform to members of the public for two
hours on Friday, April 13 with all proceeds from tickets going to Temple Street
Hospital.
As testament to the scale of the facility, the Olympic
camps will have no affect on members of public who wish to use the NAC. Those
interested in watching the Olympic teams train are also free to do so from the
stands.
The National Aquatic Centre is Ireland’s third most
popular attraction after the Guinness Brewery and Dublin Zoo.
In the first two months of this year 132,242 people
visited the centre, a 10 per cent increase on the same period in 2011. Over
825,000 people used the centre last year.
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