Miley Encourages Scotland to Swim For Free

Commonwealth swimming champion Hannah Miley is encouraging Scotland to show its support for our swimmers this year by taking the plunge for free.

The Garioch star who has just been announced as an ambassador for Scottish Gas, is backing the Scottish Gas ‘Free Swims for Britain’ campaign. The campaign is giving away swimming sessions to those who sign up online to back Scotland’s swimmers, as they prepare for the biggest competition of their careers.

Miley is currently in hard training after qualifying for Team GB in the 200m and 400m Individual Medley events at the British Gas Swimming Championships (selection trials), at the London Aquatics Centre in March.

The 22 year-old, who is currently ranked second in the world in the 400m Individual Medley, is on a mission to get Scotland swimming during this historic summer of sport.

Miley said: “I’ve always had amazing home support so I think it’s fantastic that people who get behind our swimmers can get free swims from Scottish Gas this summer.

“I’m really excited about competing in London and I hope I can inspire more people in Scotland to give swimming a try. The Free Swims for Britain campaign is a great way for everyone to enjoy the water and it won’t cost them a penny.”

Free swims, aqua aerobics classes, aqua tots classes and swimming taster lessons are on offer at 56 pools, in leisure centres, health clubs and hotels across Scotland.

Kevin Roxburgh, Managing Director, Scottish Gas said:  “Scottish Gas is passionate about supporting swimming at all levels and I’m really excited that we can offer people in Scotland the chance to enjoy spending time in the water this summer.

“I know the whole of Scotland will be rooting for our swimmers as they prepare for the challenge ahead and I hope that people all over the country will show their support and have fun swimming for free over the next few months.”

Free Swims for Britain runs from 13^th April to 30^th August 2012. For further information and to book your free swims go to www.britishgas.co.uk/freeswimming 

-End-
 
About Scottish Swimming
As the national governing body for swimming in Scotland, Scottish Swimming represents our clubs, swim schools, aquatic disciplines, and thousands of talented and committed volunteers across the entire swimmer pathway from development and healthy living through to performance.   

About sportscotland

Scottish Swimming works in partnership with sportscotland, the national agency for sport. sportscotland has one clear focus– to develop a world class sporting system for Scotland – and works with partners to build success for Scottish sport.

In 2010/11, sportscotland is investing a total of £1,255,000  into Scottish Swimming, made up of £572,500 Scottish Government funding and £682,500 National Lottery funding. sportscotland is also supporting Scottish Swimming by providing high performance expertise in a range of disciplines through its institute of sport network.

About British Gas
British Gas, the biggest energy supplier in the country has the lowest carbon intensity of any of the major UK energy suppliers in terms of tonnes of CO2 emitted per megawatt hour of electricity supplied to customers.  The company is one of the biggest investors in renewable power generation, principally offshore wind. Its recently completed Lynn and Inner Dowsing development, off the Lincolnshire coast, is the UK's largest offshore wind development. British Gas is committed to energy efficiency. 

About Speedo®
The world's leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations. Supporting swimming from grass-roots through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps, Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world.  

About Kellogg's
The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, as well as 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain and Rice Krispies Squares. Kellogg's has supported British Swimming for 13 years with a grassroots to gold medals programme of swimming helping thousands of families take the plunge and have fun in the pool.

About InterContinental Hotels Group
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms.  IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns, through various subsidiaries, over 4,400 hotels and more than 650,000 guest rooms in 100 countries and territories around the world.  The Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club Rewards with 48 million members worldwide. IHG has 1,300 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 160,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at http://www.ihg.com/ and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at http://www.priorityclub.com/. For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media