The Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) has already submitted its proposals for the use of the Liliendaal 50m Olympic-size swimming pool, ahead of the official opening ceremony scheduled for today.
Secretary of the GASA, Jeremy Simmons, said that GASA’s plans for the pool, constructed by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MYCS), have already been submitted to the Director of Sports and the MCYS.
However, following the pool’s opening the association would be expecting to have discussions with the ministry.
“Regarding the usage of the Liliendaal pool and our plans for it, we have submitted a proposal… to the Director of Sports and the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport which, in the absence of any further communication, we assume has been accepted by the government. However we anticipate that after the commissioning of the Liliendaal pool there will be further discussions on our proposal to have it implemented in some form,” Simmons said in an e-mail Monday last.
Earlier last year stakeholders had said that usage time allotted for the pool was one of the main concerns that would need to be tackled. Over the years the association has had some reservations about the time assigned for use of the available pools – Colgrain and Castellani.
The 25-yards Colgrain pool is the one most utilized for beginners and intermediate swimmers, while the more advanced swimmers resort to the use of the 25m Castellani pool but they were only allowed limited use of that facility.
Vice-President (Technical) of GASA, John Perreira, said that usage time of the pool will be one of the most critical factors in ensuring that the facility is utilized for the development of swimmers.
“I don’t see it [the pool] having any major impact until they have worked out a schedule on the usage of the pool. Unless we have adequate access to the facility we can’t develop swimming,” Perreira told Stabroek Sport.
However, the association expects that this will not be an issue with Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, since he put all doubts to rest when he pledged that the realization of the pool will see the facility being used to optimum capacity.
The pool’s opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10am and it is expected to be attended by President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Meanwhile, on the agenda for the ceremony several swimmers are scheduled to be part of the demonstrations that are expected to take place.
According to swimming coach, Stephanie Fraser who has been practicing with the swimmers, GASA was asked to prepare display performances in synchronized swimming, water polo, and a demonstration of the various swimming strokes. The swimmers have been using the pool to practice for the opening ceremony.
“We had four days to prepare some basic demonstrations in synchronized swimming, water polo and some demonstration swims. We’re trying to get a wide range of swimmers involved because everyone’s excited and everyone wants to be involved.”
