Bermuda's first 25-metre indoor swimming pool — designed with the help of a former Olympic athlete — will open to the public before summer.

A sneak preview of the $10 million Sandys 360 facility — which will also include a 24-hour gym and NBA-sized basketball court — was given to journalists yesterday, along with representatives from the ACE Foundation, which has donated $275,000 to the project.

Sandys 360 Foundation managing director Melvyn Bassett said the centre was on course to open at the end of May or beginning of June, providing affordable sports and aquatic facilities for everyone in the community.

"The costs will be nominal costs designed, of course, to attract the community," he said.

"We don't want anybody to be unable to participate because of finance."

The six-lane pool, which has a viewing platform with elevated bleachers, was designed with help from former Olympic swimmer Victor Ruberry, who said it was almost up to the standards of FINA, the international governing body for swimming and other water sports.

"The only thing we have not been able to accomplish is the width," he said. "But I'll go out on a limb and say this is probably going to be the fastest pool on the Island."

He said the 25 m by 12 m (82 by 42 foot) pool was 3 m (10ft) deep at one end, and that, combined with "flow over gutters", would help competitive swimmers achieve better speeds.

"It's multi-purpose," he said. "Definitely there is a focus for the pool to be as competitive as possible. We are looking to embrace the whole swimming fraternity, create teams and introduce swimming to young children and school-age children."

Mr. Ruberry said there would be a chair lift for those with disabilities and the pool would be available for physiotherapy sessions, as well as water polo, scuba diving classes and potentially synchronised swimming. "We want to make it as interesting as possible to get people in," he added.

Construction work began on the Sandys 360 Sport, Aquatic and Enrichment Centre in October 2007 thanks to capital fundraising by the board of governors at Sandys Secondary Middle School.

Dr. Bassett, former principal at the school, said the local community raised the first $1 million, with Government matching that amount.

Other funds have come from the private sector but the foundation still needs to raise about $5 million and board chairman Travis Gilbert encouraged companies to consider a donation.

"We are very pleased with the project and we are about eight to ten weeks away from opening," he said. "We are always looking for more participation, like the ACE Foundation. We have to maintain the debt. We are looking for as much community-based input as possible."

Mr. Gilbert said the gym would be open 24 hours a day, with members able to use a swipe card to gain entry. The pool will have lifeguards and a qualified swimming instructor.

The complex is on the Sandys Secondary Middle School site but will have a separate entrance on Broome Street when it opens and will be run by a community-based management committee, with Dr. Bassett as centre director.

Sandys principal Tim Jackson said students were getting excited about the opening and had two forthcoming fundraisers for the centre: a sponsored run on the West End field on May 9 and a girls' sports pageant on June 20.

"We are building fitness into the curriculum," said Dr. Jackson. "Students will use the facility during the day and most will continue to use it after school hours because the vast majority live right within the school community."

For more information visit www.sandys360.bm.