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Plans for free admission to public swimming pools for the over-60s are to be set out by Gordon Brown in a bid to encourage more people to take up sport ahead of the London Olympics.
Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Andy Burnham indicated that the move was the first step towards the scrapping of all pool entry charges by the time the Games open in 2012.
In an interview with the Daily Mirror, he likened the plan to Labour's decision to introduce free admission to museums and galleries in 1997.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said that initially the Government will allocate £80 million to local authorities next year to waive charges for the over-60s, with a further £50 million for the upkeep of their pools.
However, Mr Burnham signalled that future spending rounds would include further funding to cover free entry for the under-16s, with universal free admission by 2012.
"The big vision here is that in the same way that museums and galleries were made free we want, in a focused and progressive way, to remove entry charges for swimming," he said.
"The big picture here is getting free universal swimming by 2012. This is a real Labour policy - getting people to take part in sport which is good for them and good for the country."
Mr Brown, who is hosting a sports summit, will also publish the Government's legacy plan for the Games, setting out how it will use the Olympics to promote sport, regenerate east London and boost business, tourism and jobs.
It is expected to include schemes to encourage walking and cycling as well as investment in construction skills.
Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said: "There is something for everyone in our plans - every part of the country, every section of the population
Plans for free admission to public swimming pools for the over-60s are to be set out by Gordon Brown in a bid to encourage more people to take up sport ahead of the London Olympics.
Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Andy Burnham indicated that the move was the first step towards the scrapping of all pool entry charges by the time the Games open in 2012.
In an interview with the Daily Mirror, he likened the plan to Labour's decision to introduce free admission to museums and galleries in 1997.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said that initially the Government will allocate £80 million to local authorities next year to waive charges for the over-60s, with a further £50 million for the upkeep of their pools.
However, Mr Burnham signalled that future spending rounds would include further funding to cover free entry for the under-16s, with universal free admission by 2012.
"The big vision here is that in the same way that museums and galleries were made free we want, in a focused and progressive way, to remove entry charges for swimming," he said.
"The big picture here is getting free universal swimming by 2012. This is a real Labour policy - getting people to take part in sport which is good for them and good for the country."
Mr Brown, who is hosting a sports summit, will also publish the Government's legacy plan for the Games, setting out how it will use the Olympics to promote sport, regenerate east London and boost business, tourism and jobs.
It is expected to include schemes to encourage walking and cycling as well as investment in construction skills.
Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said: "There is something for everyone in our plans - every part of the country, every section of the population
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