The �10.7 million national competition and training swimming centre at Swansea is due for completion in 2002 and has been heralded as a new dawn for Welsh swimming.

Speaking at the University of Wales Swansea on Monday to mark the official start of construction at the Sketty Lane site, Sports Council for Wales (SCW) Chairman Gareth Davies said:

"The construction of the Wales National Pool Swansea means that our national squad will soon have the invaluable opportunity to train in a 50 metre competition pool within Wales once again.

An �8.5 million SCW contribution - the largest lottery award to date for a sports project in Wales - will cover most of the �10.7m needed to fund the project.

Built to meet the standards of world governing body FINA, the pool will host all national swimming championships in Wales and will be used for all national squad training.

When the construction is finished in 2002, the national administration offices for the Welsh Amateur Swimming Association (WASA) will relocate from Cardiff to the Sketty Lane site.

The centre will also house a 25m warm-up pool and a 1000 seating area.

A submersible boom and moveable floor will also mean that the 50m pool can be divided into two further 25m pools for community use.

"Wales has been without a 50m pool since May 1998 and we hope this will be just the first," said WASA President Nick Holmes.

"This pool will present Welsh swimming with the chance to make an increasing mark on the international stage."

Impact

Wales and Great Britain international swimmer Andrew Ayers from Swansea is already looking forward to training in the new pool.

"At the moment Welsh swimmers have to travel at least 100 miles to Millfield to train in the nearest 50m pool, so it's great news that Wales will have its own 50m pool again," he said.

"Most major swimming competitions are held on a long course, so regular training in the Wales National Pool Swansea will make a big difference to Welsh international swimmers.

"The appointment of a full time National Coach is also excellent news for us - it'll help bring the Welsh squad together for preparation and training, and that is bound to have a positive impact on results."

City of Cardiff coach Dave Haller - who has also coached swimmers at seven Olympic Games - says that clubs are set to benefit from the new facility too.

"The new 50m pool will be a big boost for clubs which will have an opportunity to train there at weekends and during holiday periods," he said.

"It will provide enough pool time and space to get more swimmers and coaches together, which should generate a very positive attitude in Welsh swimming."