Doug Naysmith MP attends Launch of National Swim Report

Doug Naysmith, MP for Bristol North West, met Olympic swimming medallists Duncan Goodhew MBE and Steve Parry at a special reception to unveil ‘Everyday Swim’, a report by the Amateur Swimming Association on the progress of their national swimming project.  The report shows the significant role swimming and pool-based activities have in getting the nation more active. 

Doug Naysmith said, “I welcome this project because, although it is starting in just eight areas, it will benefit the whole country.  It will give a good example to those areas which want to get more people using the pool for fun and fitness and as part of a healthy lifestyle.” 

As the country’s most popular physical activity after walking, swimming is a great way to keep active and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. More than 20 million people in the UK take to the pool each year and swimming is also the activity most inactive people say they would like to try.

ASA Swimming Activity Manager Kate Sargant, ASA Chief Executive David Sparkes and Everyday Swim Ambassador Goodhew were on hand to share experiences of the project and answer questions from MPs.

Bristol based Sargant said,  “I’m really pleased with the high level of interest from MPs which reflects on the strength of the project and the value of what we’re learning from it,” she said. “Not only are our interim findings important for swimming, but there’s a lot of good practice that can be shared across other sports and activities.

“I was delighted with the number of MPs who were aware of Everyday Swim. The project has potential to have an impact nationally and many MPs are keen to find out how they can implement best practice in their constituencies.”