Wednesday 25 February 2015

[Straits Times] Do more to keep pools in good shape

SWIMMING is a favoured pastime of many in Singapore. However, many are also turned off by the poorly maintained facilities at the swimming complexes.

Many public swimming pools have been in place since the 1980s. Since then, there has been little renovation or renewal, causing them to show tangible signs of wear and tear. For instance, many of the shower cubicles have broken doors, and the showers have weak water pressure, making washing up difficult.

The maintenance of the facilities also leaves much to be desired. The toilets are often dirty, with clogged urinals that do not seem to be cleaned in time.

There are also instances where the pool itself is filled with litter, such as strands of hair or plastic bags. This makes swimming a deeply unpleasant experience.

Sport Singapore should look into this. Aside from renovating the relevant facilities, it should also make cleanliness standards more rigorous. By improving the standard of the facilities, people will be more willing to take up the sport of swimming.

Ng Qi Siang