Media Release
4 May 2005

Red-Hot Hot Pool Marks Re-Naming of Olympic Pool

Mid-winter swimmers raising money for IHC will be able to plunge into a Red-Hot Hot Pool at the newly-named Rockforte Finance Olympic Pool in June.

The welcoming warmth of the Red-Hot Hot Pool marks the official re-naming of the facility.

The outside 33 metre pool will be dyed red and raised to a temperature of 35 degrees Celcius says Rockforte Finance Director Colin Simpson.

“It will be exactly what brave mid-winter swimmers will want to submerge their goose-pimpled bodies into after having braved the icy seas at Midway Beach,” he said.

Approval was given for Rockforte Finance to take over the naming rights of the Olympic Pool in April.

The $110,000 deal will see the pool facility bear the company’s name. All advertising and much of the pool’s equipment will soon feature the new vibrant and unique Rockforte Finance Olympic Pool logo.

To mark the name change, Rockforte Finance Olympic Pool staff have combined with organisers of the Bluebird Icebreaker Mid-Winter Swim to hold a fun day-long event for the whole family.

“Money raised on the day will go towards IHC’s fundraising efforts, and we are thrilled to have been able to combine our two events,” Mr Simpson said.

Bluebird Icebreaker Mid-Winter Swim coordinator Anne Gordon said participants in the icy sea plunge will this year be encouraged to make their way a certain distance to be in to win spot prizes.

She was pleased the swimmers would then be able to race back to the pool and soak in the luxury of warm water.

“The addition of the Red-Hot Hot Pool should encourage more participants to enter because they know straight afterwards they can leap into a heated pool. And with more participants of course we can raise more money towards IDEA Services. Since March this year IDEA Services has been the re-branded name for the service delivery part of IHC.

Mrs Gordon said the money will go to holiday programmes for children with varying degrees of intellectual disability. The holiday programmes enable children to enjoy the same experiences as others of their age, and also provides respite care for parents.”

All of the money raised will be used in the Gisborne Wairoa area.

Other activities planned for the Sunday 19 June event include the Rockforte Finance Lucky Duck Hydroslide with an iPod valued at $349 up for grabs, entertainment, food, lucky spot prizes and free entry to all pool facilities. A gold coin donation on entry puts each person in to a draw for a basket of groceries.

Rockforte Finance Olympic Pool Manager Hendrik Roos said it would be easy to raise the temperature of the outside pool to 35 degrees.

“It is currently 12 degrees but we will raise the water temperature to a toasty level. It will be the biggest spa pool in town.”

He said staff also wanted to dye the pool water red to add to the hot pool theme.

“We are looking for a safe way to dye the pool water with something that won’t stain swimmers, their clothes or the pool. It’s an exciting challenge!”

ENDS

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