By Iva Wharton
The good news is that there definitely will be a 25-metre warm-up pool at the National Aquatic Centre, Pattensen. The bad news is that the authorities have absolutely no idea when construction will commence.
Administrator of the National Aquatic Centre, Abraham Watson, in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday at the Aquatic Centre disclosed that the Ministry was in talks with a number of contractors.
Also at the Aquatic Centre was German specialist Schmidt Norbert of Myrta Pools.
According to Nerbert, he has not received any word as to whether he will be contracted to build the 25 metre pool.
“We will see, but I have not received any word from the minister as yet. I have built this one (50M0 why not this one (25 metre)?”
Asked what would be the estimated cost to build the warm-up pool, Nerbert said he had no idea.
“I don’t know what is the minister’s idea, when the minister gives me his idea I will tell you how much we need.”
Earlier this year Director of Sports Neil Kumar at a press conference said that the warm-up pool is expected to cost an estimated $75 million.
Watson said that a number of contractors have been putting forward different estimates….“Because I heard the minister say he has been getting different amounts and I guess we will have to sit down and probably evaluate and take it from there. But the 25-metre pool is definitely on stream but it is a question of cost and when.”
According to Watson, the 25-metre pool is to be built on the northern side of the administrative building.
The ministry was hoping to have the pool built in time for the hosting of the 2012 Goodwill Games but this is no longer possible.
As a result there are plans to relocate the starting blocks to temporarily facilitate a 25-metre pool which is required for the Goodwill Swimming Championships next week.
