Tel Aviv University named a new sports center after Canadian-Israeli businessman and philanthropist Sylvan Adams in a special ceremony on Wednesday. The new center will include an Olympic-size swimming pool and optimal training conditions, and will be open to the public to promote public health and sports, the university said in a statement.
The pool represents an extension to the Sylvan Adams complex to include both the sports center and Sports Excellence Institute.
“Mr. Adams’ support will enable the expansion and upgrading of the center, equipping it with the most advanced facilities to improve the achievements of Israeli athletes and benefit the community,” the statement continued..
“In addition, a new Olympic swimming pool will be built according to leading international standards. The covered swimming pool will provide Olympic swimmers with the very best training conditions, to promote success in international competitions. The swimming pool will also serve the needs of the community, promoting public health and community sports,” it added.
The University’s Sports Excellence Institute, established several years ago, includes a laboratory for research on public health, physiology, nutrition and training science.
TAU President professor Ariel Porat said, “Today Sylvan Adams fortified his position as Israel’s ‘Mr. Sports.’ The center inaugurated today, bearing his name, will serve to advance excellence and research in sports. Many will benefit from it: Israeli athletes on the one hand, but also the TAU community and many residents of Tel Aviv and its vicinity. Sylvan is one of our country’s most generous philanthropists and has donated to many different causes. He is a Zionist in the fullest sense of the word, following in the footsteps of his late parents, Marcel and Annie Adams, who were also renowned Zionists and philanthropists.”
Addressing the ceremony, Adams stated, “It is a mission of mine to invest in the sporting infrastructure of Israel. The Sylvan Adams Sports Center at Tel Aviv University is a flagship project which will nurture world class athletes and future international medal winners. This gymnasium complex also offers top level facilities to recreational athletes and weekend warriors. Israelis are winners. We just need the right facilities and coaching. The Sylvan Adams Tel Aviv University Sports Center and Sports Institute together will provide this crucial support.”
