No decision on pool repairs until next month
Published:Thursday | February 4, 2021 | 12:06 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) President Martin Lyn says that approval for financial assistance to replace the pumping system for the 50m pool at the National Aquatic Centre (NAC) will not be known until next month.
The federation submitted a request to the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) last November for help in the endeavour, with the cost estimated at $2 million.
The NAC experienced difficulties with the system last year because of a damaged gasket, which required repairs at a cost of $300,000. The SDF confirmed that they lent their support in order to complete the repairs.
Lyn said that based on the discussions between the two bodies, they were told that any decision to grant the required funds to replace the system would have to wait until next month.
“The SDF told us that they are not in a position until March, when they do their capital expenditures, so we are waiting until March,” Lyn told The Gleaner.
The NAC was closed for three months last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but reopened last July for training purposes for national and club swimmers.
The federation is still awaiting clearance from the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Ministry of Sport to resume domestic competitions.
While Lyn said meets, if given the green light, can proceed in the pool’s current state, he said the goal of the replacement would be to provide much-needed upgrades.
“We could host a meet now in our current status without a problem, but one of the reasons why we want to do it, is because we want to modernise and upgrade our efficiency,” Lyn said. “It’s not that we don’t, or can’t, host a meet now. The fact is that we just want to modernise the pool.”
Meanwhile, Lyn said that the federation is shifting its focus to not only continuing training for their local athletes, but ensuring that a domestic season can happen in a safe and secure manner, believing that they are in a good position to receive approval because of the protocols presented.
Regional tournaments are at a level of uncertainty with the postponement of the Carifta Swimming Championships, as well as Panama pulling out as host country for the Central American and Caribbean Confederation of Swimming Championships, putting that competition in doubt.