President of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA), Brian Goodridge is calling on the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., to seek the best possible way to have the National Aquatic Centre (NAC) reopened.
In an open letter to the subject minister, Goodridge appealed for the swimming pools to be opened in a phased process.
“This request is to allow Guyana’s 2021 Olympic hopefuls and other elite athletes to recommence training, complying with the National Task Force Covid-19 guidelines, issued by the Government of Guyana,” the letter stated.
Goodridge contended that back in July, Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA), the World governing body for swimming and other aquatic sports, issued “Back to the Water” Covid-19 Guidelines for safe return to the water for athletes.
The GASA boss stated, “According to these guidelines, inter alia, there should be a maximum of four swimmers per lane for 25m pools and eight swimmers per lane for 50m pools. This translates to a maximum of 32 swimmers for the ‘warm up’ pool and 80 swimmers for the main (Olympic size) pool at the NAC.”
He also pointed out in that same month, FINA Sports Medicine Committee (SMC) “athletes, forced into an unprecedented and prolonged break from habituated training routines, may experience the physical effects of “detraining”
Briefly, “detraining” is a natural physiological phenomenon occurring over weeks and months after an individual ceases regular training. This results in a diminished efficiency of heart and lungs to transport oxygen and use this in active muscles (i.e. reduced cardio–‐respiratory efficiency), and a diminished capacity of skeletal muscle to display strength, flexibility and endurance (i.e reduced musculoskeletal capability).”
Goodridge summarized, “In short, the longer swimmers stay out of the pool, the more their performance and development will be negatively affected. In addition to this, swimming, at least for competitive swimmers, has recommenced, under respective their country guidelines, in countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, St. Lucia and further afield.”
It is based on these points, Goodridge on behalf of GASA said, “GASA is asking for a maximum of 12 swimmers to be allowed to train, per session, at the NAC.”
He noted, “This limit on the number of swimmers is much more stringent than the guidelines of FINA, which recommends a maximum of 32 swimmers for a 25m pool and 80 swimmers for a 50m pool,” and pledged that with “the reopening of the facility we will ensure that the hand sanitizing, physical distancing and other Covid-19 guidelines are complied with where necessary.”
