Goodhew chosen to open new pool

Feb 13 2008 by Phillip Nifield, South Wales Echo

FORMER Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew (pictured) is to open Cardiff’s new international swimming pool at Cardiff Bay.

The 50-year-old swimming star, who won gold at the Moscow Olympics in 1980, will perform the opening ceremony on Tuesday, February 26. The pool opened to the public last month.

Cardiff council leader Rodney Berman said: “The pool is obviously a high calibre facility and, therefore, it was important to have someone who is acknowledged to be in the top flight of sports people to mark its opening. Duncan Goodhew is a household name who helped put swimming in the UK on the map.”

He said the council was pleased with the number of people visiting the pool.

“I think it shows what we have been lacking in Cardiff since the Empire Pool was shut 10 years ago,” he said.