Saturday the 11th of October, Olympic swimming gold medalist Pieter van den Hoogenband has officially opened the first 2521 swimming pool in the world in a crowded ‘Sportcentrum Blokweer’ in Alblasserdam.
With two races between of the fastest 8 girls and 8 boys of primary schools in Alblasserdam.
Pieter van den Hoogenband opened the pool. “This is a fantastic swimming pool, I am looking forward to swim here in the future”, said Pieter.
The swimmers were individually announced, standing in the spotlights, like they would have been swimming a World Cup final.
There was yet another famous swimmer in Alblasserdam. Johan Kenkhuis, winner of a silver and bronze Olympic medal, presenting every item of the day, among which the speeches of alderman Arjan Kraijo, chairman of the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation Erik van Heijningen and Mart van der Burgh, chairman of the local Foundation Sport Alblasserdam, operator of the sports center
Danny van Leeuwen, chairman and driving force of Z&PC Wiekslag was smiling all day long. In every speech his name was mentioned as a stimulator of this new swimming Pool. It was Danny who, together with Ad van ‘t Hof, current manager of the swimming pool, convinced the municipality of the possibilities of 2521 Simply Swimming for Alblasserdam.
The opening was linked to the Dutch charity ‘Spieren voor Spieren’ (muscles for muscles). Pieter van den Hoogenband is head ambassador of Spieren voor Spieren. Arjan Kraijo, presented a cheque with the value of €2.521 from the municipality of Alblasserdam to Pieter for the charity.
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