06 Mar 2024
Everyone Active takes over iconic London Aquatics Centre, plans to invest £1 million
BY Kath Hudson
Everyone Active has taken over as operator of the London Aquatic Centre on behalf of the London Legacy Development Corporation.
The stunning venue, designed by the late Zaha Hadid and built at Queen Elizabeth Park in East London for the 2012 Olympics, has two 50-metre pools, a dive pool, a 100-station gym, a café and ancillary amenities.
The contract is for eight years from 1 March and sees Everyone Active taking over from GLL who've been running the centre since 2012.
Everyone Active will spend more than £1 million upgrading the facilities. The gym refurbishment will take place next week and new purpose-built studios for cycling and group exercise will follow soon. The catering facilities are also being refurbished.
Everyone Active’s regional director, Duncan Jefford, describes the contract as a monumental milestone for Everyone Active and is keen to get to work implementing the ideas.
The leisure operator is working with Olympic gold medalist, Adam Peaty and Paralympic medalist, Maisie Summers-Newton, to promote the centre. They have both broken records and won medals at the venue.
At the launch, Peaty said: “I’ve always raced well here because it’s got an aura about it. Athletes always talk about certain environments or arenas that really give them something and the London Aquatics Centre does that to me. Obviously the legacy from the 2012 Olympics, but I also got my first world record in the 100m breaststroke here.”
It also holds special memories for double Olympic gold medallist, Summers-Newton who was inspired by watching the 2012 Paralympic swimming and went on to win the The World Para Swimming Championships title and set a world record at the centre seven years later.
“Everything started here for me,” she says. “I realised the potential of Paralympic sport, seeing athletes like myself racing and doing incredible things.”
The venue has hosted an array of local, national and international aquatic events over the years and this will continue with a line-up of top class events, including Adam Peaty’s own AP Race series and the ASA National Championships, which will be held at the venue in April for the first time.
However, it is also very much a community facility too, with regular swim sessions, lessons and talent pathways. The programming will be re-energised to bring more locals in to swim.
Everyone Active is also inviting aspiring East London athletes to apply for its Sporting Champions programme which gives free access to its facilities nationwide and mentoring from Olympians and Paralympians.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have Adam and Maisie join us as we embark on this exciting new chapter operating the world-class London Aquatics Centre,” says Jefford. “We’re eager to inject our experience and innovative ideas into this iconic sports venue.”
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