HELP SAVE OUR GRASSROOTS SPORT
BRITISH SWIMMING GREAT DUNCAN GOODHEW TELLS MATTHEW NASH THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO ACT
DUNCAN GOODHEW has called on the government to reopen swimming pools as soon as possible in order to save the nation’s physical and mental health.
The former Olympic swimming champion spoke out with England enduring a second lockdown, which like the first has seen leisure centres, gyms and pools closed in the fight against coronavirus, as Metro launches its campaign to Save Grassroots Sport.
But, concerned by the lack of physical activity and its effect on mental health, especially with so many staying indoors and the shutdown due to end on December 2, Goodhew has urged the government to reopen facilities soon.
‘Swimming is the most popular sport we have in this country, or was – more popular than jogging or cycling – and it’s vitally important for the health of the nation we get back in the pool as soon as possible,’ he told Metro.
‘There are incredibly good air systems and all in all a swimming pool is a safe place to be. Once the country opens up, I hope the government will encourage people to go swimming and address the issue where 20 per cent of pools have not reopened since the first lockdown.
‘We need a sports recovery fund and immediate investment in swimming pools. We need to do this now.’
Goodhew maintains swimming at your local pool is not as dangerous as going shopping – and is in fact much safer.
‘For a good number of people getting in the water is the only form of exercise they get, maybe because of a number of issues, so there are a lot of people who are not exercising at all,’ added the 63year-old. ‘But chlorine kills all known viruses, including Covid, so it is an incredibly safe environment to be in.
‘Before lockdown you had to book a lane, so you’re less likely to get someone brushing past you in the pool than you are in the high street or a supermarket.’
And Goodhew, who is involved with organisations such as the Swimathon Foundation and the Youth Sport Trust, says getting people back in the water helps both the economy and hospitals.
‘It’s good for the economy as so many people are employed at sports centres. Economies much smaller than ours are providing facilities much better than we are for exercise at the moment and it’s time we stepped up to the plate,’ he said.
‘Without exercise, your body is not going to run in its optimal way, or your mind, because they’re linked. How stupid are we as a society if we don’t address this when we know the benefits of swimming? It’s a no-brainer – we’re saving the NHS millions of pounds a year.’