Edwin Galea, of St Julian's, writes:

I refer to ASA president Robert Ebejer's statement (The Times, October 1) with reference to Alex Vella's article about the National Pool incorporating Dr Michael Gialanze's comments on its inadequacies and the temperature of its water.

I ask: What is Mr Ebejer trying to impress upon your readers, that Dr Gialanze's comments are not true?

Or, perhaps, that the water is too cold for the swimmers once in a blue moon, like the occasion of the last day during the British swimmers' training camp?

And then, what about that final burst of self-praise about the European Junior Waterpolo Championship? Indeed, that was irrelevant.

His role as president of the ASA is to heed the swimmers' complaints but it seems their pleas always fall on deaf ears.

Mr Ebejer reacted swiftly to complaints made in Mr Vella's article but why, for example, did he not intervene when there were attempts to undermine the ASA's work for swimmers, who were subjected to heavy criticism?

I am under the impression that Mr Ebejer made no attempt at all to publicly defend the swimmers' performance in Athens even though, I believe, the ASA are in possession of a report from the swimming coach at the Olympics.

I thank Dr Gialanze and Mr Vella, for sticking up for the swimmers. And thank you, too, Ms Josephine A. Borg, for your well-timed letter highlighting the swimmers' plight.

I concur with your expressions with one exception: not all the authorities you mentioned should be placed in the same boat. There are some who really support swimming - and thank God for that.