Out of hundreds of entries, Sunderland's Aquatic Centre has made it to the final 10 for the Best Sports Project – a National Lottery Award.

Now the centre is urging the thousands of Wearsiders who use the facility to show their support and vote for first place.

Since the grand opening, the centre has been packed, with about 1,000 people walking through the door each day.

And while it is closely linked to the region's Olympic hopes, the staff and management team want to make sure that the local community feel the true benefit.

Head coach of Sunderland Swimming Club, Paul Hogg, says the new centre has done wonders for his team.

"Our junior league team had a clean sweep at the last competition and they've been promoted to the first division now," he said.

"The results are definitely going the right way and the kids love the new facility.

"It's down to them now and they're improving rapidly."

Centre manager Michael Dodds, from Silksworth, has worked in the leisure industry for 20 years.

He has been involved with the centre from the start, and says he is passionate about the challenge ahead.

"It's challenging, but a nice challenge," he said.

"So many people from different walks of life are becoming our customers.

"It's not a traditional pool, it's five traditional pools. Sometimes we have 11 different swimming classes on at the same time, which is brilliant.

"Everybody in this city has the opportunity to swim now."

Michael thinks the successful award bid is down to the people of Sunderland.

"The community has made it successful. It's about people coming here, participating, and improving their health.

"If someone has a talent we want to build a pathway for them: we're building a pathway to swimming for the people of Sunderland and beyond."

The centre is the first and only Olympic sized swimming pool in the North East.

Already it is proving to be a pull for the big names in sport.

Olympic bronze medallist Dave MacNulty, who is training the British squad for Bejing, will soon be a familiar face at the centre, coaching promising students onto the next level.

Coun Mel Speding, cabinet portfolio holder for sports and leisure, said: "You can see where the £20million has gone.

"Having primary school children using the pool alongside Olympic hopefuls is inspirational."

So whatever the outcome of the National Lottery Awards, one thing is already certain: Sunderland's new Aquatic Centre is really making waves.


* To vote for the Aquatic Centre, visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards or call: 0845 3863213.
Voting closes this Friday, July 4.


* For more information about the Aquatic Centre, call: 0191 561 6161 or visit: www.sunderland.gov.uk/aquaticcentre/

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