Plans for a 50-metre pool in Aberdeen have received a boost after the University of Aberdeen committed £5m to the project.

The University Court has agreed to help fund an Olympic-sized 50-metre swimming pool as part of the third phase of Aberdeen Sports Village. The £28m first phase of the Sports Village is currently under construction in partnership with Aberdeen City Council and sportscotland on the site of the former Chris Anderson Stadium site in Linksfield.

Now, the University has committed £5m towards the cost of a pool, phase three of the overall project, after receiving a request for funding from the council, which has set aside £10m.

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Professor Stephen Logan, Senior Vice Principal of the University, said the University was fully committed to helping bring a 50-metre pool to the North-east.

He added: "Aberdeen Sports Village will be a magnificent new sporting facility for the city when it opens in summer 2009 and we are delighted to be able to commit this additional funding towards the third phase of the project - an Olympic-sized pool for those in the North-east and beyond."

Aberdeen Sports Village will include one of the largest indoor third-generation synthetic pitches in the UK; indoor and outdoor athletics training facilities; a large multi-sport games hall; a fitness suite, studios and performance gym; a sports performance laboratory; a floodlit hockey pitch; and four squash courts.

Plans for phase two of development, due to begin in summer 2009, will see additional grass and artificial surfaces added to the site. The 50-metre Olympic-sized pool and additional facilities would complete phase three of the project.

Professor Logan said: "A 50-metre pool will put Aberdeen and the North-east on the sporting map and give the next generation of swimming stars the opportunity to fulfil their talent, as well as providing a first-class facility for the whole community."

(GK/JM)