Free swimming for over-60s in Olympics plan

LONDON (Reuters) - Swimming pools will be free for the over-60s under government plans announced on Friday to boost the nation's fitness ahead of the 2012 Olympics in London.

Funding to cover the cost of free admission will be offered to local authorities from next year.

Councils can also bid for additional money to extend the scheme to children under 16 and to refurbish ageing facilities.

The programme, funded by 140 million pounds for its first two years, only applies to England's 1,600 publicly owned pools.

The devolved administration in Wales has offered a similar free swimming scheme for a number of years.

"We have chosen swimming because its appeal is universal," said Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Andy Burnham.

"It is the perfect antidote to the couch potato culture."

As part of its Olympic programme, the government wants to make 2 million people more active by the time the games start in July 2012.

It already has plans to spend 75 million pounds on a campaign to encourage healthy lifestyles and counter what it calls an obesity epidemic in Britain.