Celebrity Santa makes a splash at World’s first Aqua Grotto
15 December 2010
Children in London have been given the chance to visit Santa in a very unusual location at the world’s first ever Christmas aqua grotto, built to encourage families to have fun and keep active by taking a dip during the holiday season.
The aqua grotto – in town for one day only on Tuesday 14th December – was also used to raise awareness for the Help a London Child Christmas appeal, which is working to help children suffering from abuse, poverty, homelessness, disability and illness.
Children received presents from a very famous Father Christmas - Olympic swimming gold medallist Duncan Goodhew, at The Park Club in Acton, London.
The children then had the chance to take the plunge in the British Gas aqua grotto with Santa’s well-known elves, six-times swimming world champion Mark Foster and Commonwealth synchronised swimming silver medallist Jenna Randall.
“I hope the aqua grotto helps to highlight that swimming is a great all-year round activity for everyone. Hopefully it will encourage more families to head to the pool over the Christmas break,” said ASA ambassador Mark Foster.
British Gas, the principal partner of British Swimming, constructed the aqua grotto to give children a festive fun day out with a difference, highlighting the health and fitness benefits of swimming to families at a time of festive indulgence.
British Gas ambassador, Duncan Goodhew added: “I think the British Gas aqua grotto is a great idea. It’s an opportunity to combine the magic of Christmas with the fun of swimming to give these children an enjoyable day while taking part in a healthy activity.”
Combat the over indulgence
On average Britons consume a staggering 5,551* calories during Christmas Day, nearly three times the amount of calories recommended by the Department of Health (1940 calories per day for women and 2550 for men).
But swimming is the perfect antidote to all that Christmas over-indulgence because even a gentle swim can burn over 200 Kcal in half an hour and a fast front crawl can burn 400Kcal, the same as running at 8 miles an hour, and it’s a great way of keeping active in a warm indoor environment, away from the winter weather.
Nutritional therapist and director of The Nutrition Coach, Kate Cook said: “Most people eat and drink more than they should over Christmas so it’s important that they also keep active. Swimming is an excellent way to do this. It can help people shift those extra pounds, is great relaxation at what can be a very stressful time and is a healthy activity for all the family.”
*(Source: 2006 Survey of 1,500 Britons)
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