More than 2,500 Londoners turned out for a community open day at the London Aquatics Centre last weekend, with Team GB sprinter and TV star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey joining visitors at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Harry spent the day taking part in gym challenges, joining a Zumba session and meeting fans - with his meet-and-greet sessions so popular they were fully booked out with visitors.
As well as being a familiar face on television, Harry is also an elite athlete on Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions programme, which supports and mentors aspiring athletes in local communities.
The event, on Sunday May 17, run by operator Everyone Active in partnership with the London Legacy Development Corporation, welcomed visitors to the iconic Olympic venue for a day of activities priced at just £2 each, raising £3,500 for The Ben Kinsella Trust and Breast Cancer Now.
Among the attractions was the giant Atlantis inflatable, which drew 350 swimmers, while all 36 places for the diving taster sessions were booked in advance, giving visitors the opportunity to try the centre’s competition-standard facilities.
Lane swimming, gym tasters, fitness challenges and group exercise classes rounded out a packed day for families and residents from across east London.
Chris Wells, contract manager at Everyone Active, said: "To see more than 2,500 people come through the doors and get active together is exactly what we hoped for. Harry was absolutely brilliant with visitors, and raising £3,500 for two incredible charities is the icing on the cake.
“The open day was a fantastic chance to show that the London Aquatics Centre is so much more than just swimming. From diving and gym sessions to fitness classes and family activities, there really is something for everyone here, and we’d encourage anyone who hasn’t visited before to come and give it a try.”
The London Aquatics Centre first opened to the public in 2014, two years after hosting the swimming and diving events at London 2012. Everyone Active has managed the venue in partnership with LLDC since April 2024.