BIRMINGHAM'S bid for a money-spinning Olympics training camp washanging in the balance today.
Plans for the pool are now six months late and the city isstruggling to deliver an Olympics-class facility in time for the 2012Games in London.
Coun Mike Whitby, Tory leader of the city council, has launched acharm offensive to lure the Chinese team, expected to be the largestat the Games, to Birmingham.
But it could all be for nothing if the proposed Olympic pool ishit by further delays. The aim is to get the pool ready for theNational School Games in 2011.
The pool is being developed by the city council, Advantage WestMidlands, Sport England and Aston University and is expected to besited on the university's campus at Gosta Green. But they are stillshort of funding for the multi-million-pound project, and no firmplans are in place.
Coun Penny Holbrook (Lab, Stockland Green) said: 'Time after time,the city council's leadership has failed to show any vision or pridein Birmingham.
'Time is slipping away for us to build in Birmingham a 50-metreswimming pool. Indeed the city council has less than half therequired budget for such a development.
'Where are the plans and where is the money? Birmingham CityCouncil at this rate would be hard pressed to hold a duck race in ourpresent swimming pools, let alone a prestige national swimmingevent'.
Coun John Alden, Tory chairman of the council's leisure, sport andculture scrutiny committee, confirmed there had been a hold-up, buthe was not yet too concerned.
'I would have liked to have seen the plan finalised in June, butthat has not happened. It would take about 36 weeks to build and wehave 2008, 2009 and 2010 to get ready for the Olympics,' he said.
'I would only be concerned if we have not got it sorted by the endof 2007.'
