The host city of the 2013 European Short Course Championship got a permanent top flight facility this past week. Herning, which used a temporary pool in the city’s arena, Jyske Bank Boxen, will now have one of three facilities in Denmark that can boast ten long course lanes.
Interestingly enough, all of those cities are far from the Danish capital of Copenhagen, which will serve as host for the 2017 European Short Course Championship.
Michael Hinge, the club director of Herning Swim Club, spoke proudly of the new facility to SwimSwam:
“Visionary club leadership, politicians and and a diligent facility manager, all came together to pour the foundation of a new Swimming mecca in Denmark…now there are new opportunities to grow both the elite and wider sport”
Like all clubs in Denmark, Herning serves a dual role in its community. It is an umbrella organization with both competitive swimming and learn to swim under one roof. With just 100 or so competitive swimmers, the club nonetheless boasts a membership of 1400.
Hinge told SwimSwam that he believes the new facility will allow that number to grow. He predicted they would reach 2000 members within the next year. The pool will also host the Danish Long Course championship this coming summer.