A revamped National Pool

When the National Pool was completed in time for the Games of the Small States of Europe in Malta in 1993, we finally had an infrastructural base which opened up new horizons for the disciplines comprising aquatic sports.

The 50-metre pool was the nerve-centre accommodating our swimmers and waterpolo players, while the diving pool complemented the complex in as much as the less popular diving discipline was concerned.

Whereas diving never took off locally and synchro swimming had what one could regard as a stillbirth, swimming started thriving and waterpolo had a new lease of life.

An Olympic-size pool and its surrounding amenities warrant regular maintenance and upgrading of equipment so that there can be optimal benefits for athletes. The initial capital outlay has to be regularly complemented by recurring expenditure to keep the place operational.

A heating system backed by adequate provisions to minimise a fall in temperature during the cold months, is a priority for maximum use of the pool. But only until the heating bills are not exorbitant. However, with the expenses for such a facility eventually turning out to be prohibitive over an uninterrupted annual schedule, it transpired that the complex was not self-sustainable and, therefore, not commercially viable.

The outcome in these last years was the closing down of the pool for a substantial period during the cold months. Needless to say, this has been a severe handicap, particularly for our swimmers whose winter build-up in the water had to be severely curtailed. Subsidies were not enough.

Maintenance work also impinged on the swimmers' accessibility to the pool and this was to the detriment of our budding athletes earmarked to represent our country in international events.

Repairs in the foundations of the pool also necessitated undue inconvenience for our swimmers, including foreign teams who planned to have training camps in Malta. The thought of the complex turning out to be a white elephant must have crossed the minds of many.

Something had to be done to reinstate the place to normal operational standards. The authorities, through the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport, had always been aware of the importance of regular maintenance and upgrading.

Thankfully, visitors to the complex in recent weeks will have surely noticed that the pool surroundings are being refurbished, with reconstruction works being carried out at the scoreboard end.

A complete facelift has been given to both the spectators' stands, with the colour schemes fitting well with the aquatic environment, including that of the upper and lower platforms of the diving structure.

On a purely technical note one was also pleased to see that the water is back to the expected clear levels after having been temporarily murky and a cause for recent complaints by the waterpolo players and swimmers.

Diving pool

It is now hoped that work in the diving pool will be completed soon so that the whole area will be in attractive shape and fully functional.

To the more discerning, other shortcomings, when seen to, would put further gloss to the whole set-up at the complex. The public address equipment, for example, calls for refurbishment as far as the audio system is concerned.

Some re-touching of the press section after this area had been given a facelift last year, would also be very welcome. In the absence of air conditioners, fans are needed to ease the journalists' discomfort of having to endure the intense heat. There is also the inconvenience for members of the media of having toilets only available three floors down.

Communication facilities between the ASA and the media are better than they used to be, but more is needed to be done so that journalists can have optimal service in this respect.

All in all, though, the general overhaul has revamped the National Pool complex.

Keeping the place in ship shape condition - also after proper seats are hopefully installed - requires a concerted effort from the public, the athletes and authorities. It is a challenge which, with goodwill, can be overcome for the benefit of all.