During the London 2012 Diversity Week, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has launched the search for an innovative swimming pool lift that would enable improved access for disabled swimmers.

The ODA is exploring options for an affordable alternative lift to those currently available on the market for disabled swimmers that will use the two 50m pools in the London 2012 Aquatics Centre after the Games.

Current solutions to access pools either prevent a full swimming lane being used for competitions or do not enable disabled swimmers to enter the pool independently or with minimal assistance.

ODA Chairman John Armitt said: "This is an opportunity for London 2012 to provide the UK design industry with another platform to demonstrate their creativity. It is a challenging brief but I’m confident the UK has the expertise to develop an innovative solution that could potentially benefit disabled swimmers across the world."

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The competition, which is being advertised on the online business dating agency for 2012 opportunities CompeteFor, is intended to help the market develop a new design that could become available to disabled swimmers across the world. The solution being sought could be used in existing pools that are currently inaccessible to disabled swimmers and be able to be stored during competition.

Tom Russell, London Development Agency (LDA) Group Director of Olympic Legacy, said: "The LDA welcomes this innovative design competition which could potentially give disabled swimmers easier access to swimming pools across the world. It is important that we ensure full accessibility for local communities to be able to use and enjoy the Aquatics Centre's facilities beyond 2012. We look forward to looking at what the industry comes up with in terms of providing both a creative and an affordable solution that could leave an exciting legacy for the Aquatics Centre after the 2012 Games."

(CD/JM)