Joburg pools turn green again

Johannesburg public swimming pools were affected by the non-delivery of chemicals at Ellis Park, Sydenham, Zoo Lake and Yeoville.

Gideon Sam, the president of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), strongly criticised the situation.

“This is not how we prepare for the Olympics. This is our Olympic pool in Johannesburg and if that is out of commission for days on end it is not good enough,” he said.

“We need to rely on our swimming pools to be in working order to produce the medals. If that does not happen what do we have to work with?”

The Ellis Park pool, the only heated 50m pool in Johannesburg, closed on Wednesday and it was not known when it would reopen as the city council was unavailable for comment.

As a result, several provincial squads, lifesavers and the touring Italians, who train at high altitude in South Africa every year, were left stranded.

“I’ve said it so many time before. If we do not give our athletes the training they deserve they will not achieve.”

Sam promised to take the matter up with Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau.

This is not the first time the city council has failed the swimming public.

Last year, it was reported that the pool had to be closed in December because of a shortage of chlorine, the lifeblood of any swimming pool.

Deputy director of maintenance and procurement Nico Loubser could not be reached to comment on when the problem would be resolved.

– Sapa