Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington OBE cut the ribbon at a sports community launch event at Tong Leadership Academy.
The freestyle swimmer, who won two gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, gave her approval to the outstanding facilities at the Bradford secondary school as she launched a brand new learn to swim programme there.
Families from across the Bradford community can take advantage of the school’s state-of-the-art sports facilities and creative art spaces, which are available for use by the local community.
The school’s 25m pool will host Adlington’s new swimming programme, while the other facilities, including a floodlit 3G pitch, gymnasium and sports hall provide an opportunity for children and young people in the city and surrounding areas to remain active and develop their sporting prowess.
Speaking about the positive impact the school’s facilities can provide, Rebecca Adlington said:
“It’s now our responsibility to ensure that kids have all the resources available to get moving, stay active and get into sports more than ever before – and what better way to do this than by swimming.
“With the launch of this new programme in Bradford, children will not only learn to swim, but will gain a whole host of transferable skills sure to benefit them as they grow up. I can’t wait to watch how the programme impacts the lives of the children of Tong Leadership Academy and the surrounding areas.”
Along with a ribbon cutting, autographs and selfies with the gold-medallist, the launch event saw a variety of free sports sessions, including dodgeball and football, to give a taster of what Tong Leadership Academy’s facilities can provide.
The school is offering free introductory swimming sessions, and their dance, drama and beauty therapy studios will also help those in the community learn vital life skills which can help in all aspects of a child’s development, such as confidence, determination, and resilience.