IT is inspirational to see the progress that has been made in Guyana over the past decade, particularly, in the area of sports. The newly built Olympic swimming pool will no doubt be a great addition to the sports sector, and will serve as a tool which athletes (swimmers) can use to improve their performance. This is indeed a momentous milestone that we have accomplished.

This state of the art new facility which can comfortably accommodate 750 persons will give youths the opportunity to undergo the same vigorous training requirements of the Olympics right at home, without having to travel abroad to do so.

Hopefully, from this we will see more of Guyana competing in the world Olympics. I was very much intrigued by a recent GINA press release television programme which reported on the progress of this pool.

On the pool site, there is an administrative building which houses a pavilion, VIP lounge, offices, lockers, bathrooms, medical facility and dressing rooms. There is also four computerized water filters in the mechanical house.

According to the GINA report, the pool was pre-fabricated by internationally acclaimed Italian pool making company, Myrtha Pools, and was accredited by the world governing body for swimming, FINA.

This new Olympic swimming pool will definitely help to improve the sports sector, and I am all for it. My suggestion is that it is opened to the general public, particularly on weekends, as a place of recreation and family fun.

If a small fee is charged for recreational use on weekends and holidays, not only will it be beneficial in the area of sports and athlete performance enhancement, but it will eventually repay for itself, the monetary investment made to obtain the pool. Sports is an important part of any country’s social and educational development. It is youths like me who will benefit most from this initiative.