I have not been fitness-conscious in many years, but in preparation for my Camino walk, I decided to invest in a FitBit, a watch that not only tells the date and time, but also provides information about one’s activity in terms of steps and kilometers covered, calories burned, and one’s heart rate. All the measures are tracked daily and weekly, from the time that one startswearing the FitBit. Continue reading →
Tag Archives: swimming
Newlands Aquatic Centre to become Cape Town’s ‘jewel in swimming’s crown’!
If the London 2012 Olympic Games proved one thing, then it is that South Africa has very fine swimmers, given the two golds that Chad le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh brought back home, as well as Le Clos’ silver medal. Now the City of Cape Town has announced its plans to transform the Newlands swimming pool into an international standard Aquatics Centre, to develop more golden swimming stars for the country.
The City of Cape Town will develop the pool in conjunction with Swimming SA, reports the Cape Argus. It is planned to make the Aquatics Centre commercial, to finance the pool’s upgrade. The upgrade will make the pool the ‘jewel in swimming’s crown in greater Cape Town‘. The planned upgrade will enhance Newlands’ reputation as the top sporting centre of Cape Town, the suburb already being the home of rugby and cricket.
Plans are to develop the pool, to allow swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, and water polo, to allow the development of these water sports at international level.
Due to a restriction of funds, which did not allow the South African Olympic team to travel to London ahead of the Olympic Games to train there, ex-South African Olympic 2000 swimming team member Princess
Charlène of Monaco invited the team to Monaco, to practice in their pool facilities. Her pride in the team’s medal tally was even greater as a result, having given them moral support at the poolside in Monaco, and proudly supporting her team in London. She flew to Durban 10 days ago, to present funds from her Princess Charlène Foundation for the upgrade of the Pinetown pool, at which she used to train, and which is the home pool of Chad le Clos.
The Sunday Argus has reported that Cape Town and Durban are vying for the title of Aquatics Capital of the country. Durban is said to be bidding to host the Olympic Games in 2024, and its Kings Park pool is already deemed to be world class.
Once Cape Town has an international standard Aquatics Centre, international events relating to water sports can be hosted, which could become a boost for our tourism industry.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage
Dam new Franschhoek attraction
The Berg River Dam is set to become part of the Franschhoek tourism offering, if the development plans of the consultants CNdV Africa Planning & Design are accepted.
The plans include a 2 000 metre Olympic-size rowing course, a guest lodge, restaurants, and shops, reports the Cape Argus.
The consultants have proposed that only tourism and recreational facilities should be provided at the Dam. Non-motorised water activities such as sailing, angling, swimming, rowing and canoeing are to be offered. On the edge of the dam, facilities for cycling, hiking and camping in tented accommodation are to be developed.