IMPROVING facilities for elite athletes and encouraging more grassroots participation are at the heart of the North-East's new sports strategy.
The strategy, produced by the North-East Sports Board and Sport England North-East, is a five-year vision that aims to improve and develop facilities and the achievements of the region's sportsmen and women.
Key elements are the building of a 50m Olympic standard swimming pool and the creation of an English Institute of Sport, centred on Gateshead International Stadium.
The strategy also seeks to encourage greater participation in informal and organised sports ranging from football to rock climbing and angling, particularly by minority groups.
It proposes to draw up priorities for repairing, refurbishing or replacing the region's sports centres and swimming pools.
Sport England North-East director Janet Rasmussen said plans were already being drawn up for Olympic pools in Newcastle and Sunderland.
"Too many of our swimmers are moving away to swim because the nearest pools are in Edinburgh and Leeds," she said.
"We have two local authorities who are progressing Lottery applications. Hopefully one of them will be successful."
Ms Rasmussen said one of the strategy's key elements would be looking at what could be done about the region's ageing sports halls and pools, and developing a strategic approach to developing new facilities
The strategy was launched last night at a ceremony in Durham City attended by Sports Minister Richard Caborn and North-East athletes, including Jonathan Edwards, Steve Cram and Allison Curbishley.
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