Sports

Sport for all in Medway

Medway has a growing reputation as a sporting venue, providing quality facilities and activities for all - from communtiy to elite level.

Sporting excellence

Medway Park is Medway's new £11million centre of sporting excellence, created on the site of the former Black Lion Leisure Centre in Gillingham.

In April 2010 it plays host to the Modern Pentathlon World Cup (www.mpwc2010.co.uk/₎, the first world sporting event to be held in Medway. Two years later it will be a central venue for the 2012 British Transplant Games and will be a training base for Olympic and Paralymic athletes.

Medway has produced athletes who have competed on the international stage, including Gary Smith, Olympic trampoline finalist; Rachael Burford, England women's rugby union vice-captain and Michael Baker, Great Britain youth athletics captain.

The council runs a number of programmes to discover talented local athletes and support their development, including its pioneering Medway Sporting Academy.

Medway Gets Active

But you don't need to be a world star to get involved.

Medway Council is committed to promoting sporting activity and healthy living to all residents and urging everyone to get active.

Medway Gets Active (www.medwaygetsactive.co.uk) is a one-stop shop for information about facilities, programmes, fitness classes and clubs available in Medway, whether you're new to sport, want some gentle exercise or are looking for a more competitive activity.

Medway has a wide range of clubs where local people can take part in their favourite sports. A full list of Medway sports clubs and useful contact details for each sport's governing body is also available in the A-Z of sports clubs.

Facilities for all

Medway's leisure centres enable residents to play sport on a casual basis, work out or swim. Swimming is free at Medway Council pools for anyone younger than 16 or older than 60 years.

For the more competitive, the council's Sports Development Team offers a comprehensive Medway Games programme that allows people aged from nine to 90 to take part in organised events.

People prefering to exercise outdoors can enjoy one of Medway's country parks that are ideal venues for running, walking and cycling. These include Capstone Farm Country Park, Riverside Country Park and Ranscombe Farm.

For the more adventurous, Arethusa Venture Centre offers climbing, abseiling, canoeing and other outdoor extreme activities and the Ice Bowl in Gillingham gives people the chance to skate or play ice hockey.

Visit www.medwaygetsactive.co.uk for full facility listings for Medway.

Medway is a great place for people of all ages and abilities to pursue an existing sporting interest or develop a new one and Medway Council is committed to helping them to do it.

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