University of Stirling - National Swimming Academy

[Chris]

I've just read a post from Insweep in rec.sport.swimming about the new HQ for Scottish swimming.

Looks like a very positive move.

Can the rest of the UK follow the example being set by you Scots?

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Chris (Webmaster)
Beau Sejour Barracudas Swimming Club - Guernsey
http://www.barracudas-sc.org.gg/

[lane4]

A very positive move indeed but that may not tell the whole story. The fact is that many of the swimmers who are already training in Stirling are actually English. A significant group of English swimmers have made the move to Scotland (most in Stirling, some elsewhere) in order to try and take advantage of the rule that allows anyone who lives in Scotland for 6 months to be able to swim for Scotland. More are sure to follow. Thus, quality Scots swimmers could well be squeezed out of their own academy due to better English swimmers in their place. The danger is that these 'adopted' Scots may well up and leave just as quickly as they came.

[This message has been edited by lane4 (edited 13 June 2001).]

[Conrad Cawley]

I cannot believe that if you live in Scotland for 6 months you become an “Honorary Scot”. This is crazy and should not be allowed.

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Conrad

[Pete]

Lets pay the top swimmers in the world to live in Scotland for 6 months and clean up at the next Olympics.
FINA rules surely don't allow this to go on. Someone is having a laugh.
Mind you; how often do Scotland compete as a nation. The same thing could be said about England. I think we are all British and should be proud by birth to swim for Britain. British swimmers should use British facilities. Let's wait for the next installment.

[BigFish]

Originally posted by lane4:
The fact is that many of the swimmers who are already training in Stirling are actually English.
And why shouldn't they be? Okay, I agree they shouldn't be allowed to swim for Scotland, but why shouldn't they be able to train in Scotland? The Aussie Institute and Bath Uni spring to mind.

Or were you not criticising this aspect at all?

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David Cuthbert (www.dartes.co.uk)
news@DaveC.org.uk