Free swimming for over-60s

Over-60s are to be given free admission to public swimming pools in an £80m first stage of the initiative.

The move will be outlined by Gordon Brown as part of a bid to encourage greater participation in sport ahead of the Games.

Sport minister Andy Burnham indicated future funding would allow free entry to under-16s, then to everyone by 2012.

Authorities are to get £80m next year to scrap over-60s' charges and £50m for the pools' upkeep.

'Big vision'

The culture, media, and sport secretary said he thought the initiative would be popular.

Mr Burnham said: "It will be so obviously right, in that it improves the health of the nation, that it improves peoples' health, happiness, well-being, general quality of life.

"If somebody is currently inactive, it's the most likely sport they're going to do. But unlike other sports, swimming has a barrier in its way and it's called an entry charge."

Mr Brown will also publish the government's plan detailing how it believes the legacy of the Games will boost sport, the regeneration of east London, business, tourism and jobs.

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said: "There is something for everyone in our plans - every part of the country, every section of the population."

'Too late'

But Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Don Foster told the Daily Mirror the plans had arrived far too late.

He said the government now had no hope of reaching its aim of getting two million more adults into sport by 2012.

"We've lost an incredible amount of time waiting for these plans," he said.

"There are lots of organisations across the country working very hard to try and do this, but it all should have started a lot earlier."

Source : BBC Health News